Kwanzaa Celebration

RSVP below and join us for a day of hands-on art, performances and conversations celebrating the principles of Kwanzaa. Create Kwanzaa keepsakes, sample local sweets and shop with some of Charlotte’s businesses of color in our Museum store.

About Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world African community. It was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture among African-American people as well as Africans. These values are called the Nguzo Saba which in Swahili means the Seven Principles.

Developed by Dr. Karenga, the Nguzo Saba stand at the heart of the origin and meaning of Kwanzaa, for it is these values which are not only the building blocks for community but also serve to reinforce and enhance them.

Schedule

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Exhibition galleries open

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Drop-in art-making activities

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Visit the museum store to shop Black-owned art & jewelry businesses

10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Business Start Up 101 with Black Tech Charlotte (ages 7-18)

RSVP for Business Start Up 101 with Black Tech Charlotte

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Holistic Yoga with Beverlee

Baptiste Power Yoga has three main elements; asana, the physical practice of yoga postures; meditation, the practice of focusing the mind; and inquiry, the practice of self-transformation. These 3 elements encourage students to step into their full potential by discovering their passions, creativity, and developing the confidence to step into new and big possibilities in their lives. The Journey Into Power flow is a full body workout that will strengthen the mind, body and spirit of all practitioners. The practice focuses on the importance of breath and breathing through poses in order to rise to the occasion and transform.

This class is recommended for ages 14+ and can accommodate all. Inversions, balancing, forward bends, lunges and twists are all part of the flow. Modifications are done to accommodate for any individual's capabilities.

As a self-proclaimed energy guru, Beverlee Sanders (Bev for short), strives to enhance energy through yoga by aligning chakra imbalances. Bev has been a yoga practitioner for three years and completed her 200+ hour certification with Yoga One in Charlotte in November 2018. Baptiste Power Yoga has been transformational spiritually, mentally and physically for her and she hopes to bring the same transformational energy into her students’ lives.

RSVP for Holistic Yoga with Beverlee

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Kwanzaa Charlotte presentation

• A Sankofa Moment: Looking back at the history of Kwanzaa, its roots and enduring legacy.
• Celebrating Kwanzaa at Home: An interactive workshop that discusses the Kiswahili terms used to describe the basic elements and seven symbols of Kwanzaa.
• Kwanzaa craft-making Workshop: Participants will be guided in the creation of Kwanzaa-inspired crafts.

RSVP for Kwanzaa Charlotte presentation

11:30 AM - 12:00 Noon
Guided tour of What We Ask is Simple

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Live in Color with Bea and Bev (ages 14+)

Listen up, you have a story to tell - and the world needs to hear it. Colorful stories of triumphs, failures, love found, love lost and childhood experiences that have and continue to shape how we think, feel, live and love. It’s time to speak your truth and tell your story. Through the #LiveInColor workshop you will use a variety of writing and interactive activities to open your truth Chakra (known as your throat Chakra) and use your newfound freedom to examine how your life experiences have shaped who you are and how speaking your truth can help you move forward living life in COLOR. This two-hour long workshop is guaranteed to open your eyes, mind and heart to finding your truth and living it unapologetically. By the conclusion of the workshop you will walk away with a new understanding of your experiences and will make a commitment to LIVE IN COLOR.

RSVP for Live in Color with Bea and Bev

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Guided tour of Welcome to Brookhill

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Dance Workshop and Performance of “Unity” with MufukaWorks Dance Company

MufukaWorks Dance Company is a local Charlotte dance company whose mission is to use dance as a vehicle to tell stories. MufukaWorks dance style is Afro Russe dance (a fusion of Zimbabwean, ballet, and modern). It is directed by Elsie Mufuka (BA in Dance and BA in Communications from Coker College) and candidate for Masters in Arts Administration from Winthrop University. The company has performed works and served the community through dance since 2010. Come experience an original dance work, Unity, inspired by Kwanzaa's principle "Umoja" (meaning unity) and dance class workshop of Afro Russe dance.

RSVP for Dance Workshop and Performance of “Unity” with MufukaWorks Dance Company

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Performance by Mufuka Works Dance Company

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Guided Tour of For Freedoms including Portraits at the Polls