It’s beautiful… It reminds me of home in Africa. It is a way to celebrate my culture… Just the drumming and the music, it reminds me of home. – Pearl Forbes, Liberian native
Hayti Kwanzaa Table 2015 created by Baba Chuck Davis
Hayti Legacy Kwanzaa kicks off the week-long Kwanzaa festivities in the Triangle. Kwanzaa is a 7-day celebration of family, community, and culture observed from December 26 through January 1. Co-sponsors – Shabutaso Inc. and Hayti Heritage Center – bring the community together under Kwanzaa’s first day and principle – Umoja – Ki-Swahili for Unity. The day-long celebration features a documentary film showing, interactive activities for families, and evening performances. See Kwanzaa Across the Triangle page for more information and a listing of Kwanzaa events throughout the Triangle.
WHO: Children, Adults, Seniors
WHAT: Hayti Kwanzaa– family-friendly African-American cultural celebration
WHEN: Tuesday December 26th, 2017 1pm – 9:00pm
WHERE: Hayti Heritage Center 804 Old Fayetteville St. Durham, NC 27701
HOW MUCH: Suggested donation of $1 for children and seniors, $3 for adults; No one will be turned away
2017 THEME: LEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE
NEA OPE SE OBEDI HENE
“He who wants to be king must first learn to serve”
This adinkra symbol represents service and leadership and is taken from the expression, “Nea ope se obedi hene daakye no, firi ase sue som ansa” meaning “He who wants to be king in the future must first learn to serve.”
SCHEDULE PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES
1:00pm Film Showing
2pm African Marketplace opens- clothing, crafts, food, books, and MORE
2:30pm Cultural Arts Sampler– 20 minute sampler classes for kids and adults offered by local artists and instructors
4pm Chess Village– Chess fun facilitated by Coach Eric Zeigler
5pm BUMP: The Triangle African Diasporic Music Workshop– music, history, and culture workshop
7pm Candle Lighting Ceremony- hosted by Zayd Malik Shakur
7:30pm Performances- featuring Alex Weiss & Different Drum, DanceSpirit Magazine’s “next generation of stars” tap pick Jabu Graybeal, griot-poet Darrell Stover, and special guest appearance by the always soulful Shana Tucker!
PERFORMERS
16 year old tapper Jabu Graybeal
JABU GRAYBEAL is a 16 year old dancer from Pittsboro NC. He has been a member of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble directed by Gene Medler for the past 7 years. This summer Jabu was accepted to study at the tap dance program at Jacob’s Pillow in Massachusetts and was the first tapper to be accepted by the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Workshop at the Newport Jazz Festival. He was featured in the December 2017 issue of Dance Spirit magazine as one of five up and coming tap dancers to watch out for. Jabu has performed with several local artists including Pierce Freelon and The Beast, and jazz trumpeter Al Strong.
Shana Tucker
SHANA TUCKER
ChamberSoul cellist & singer-songwriter. Weaver of melodic, rhythmic song-story tapestries. Jazz and 80’s music lover. Recording artist. Teaching artist. Arts in Education advocate. Artist fellow. Grant recipient. Improvisor. Collaborator. Community Conduit. — shanatucker.com
DARRELL STOVER – poet, cultural historian, science communicator, and public intellectual has a long record of community building through direct action, performance, teaching, documenting, and celebrating African diasporic heritage and struggle. His most popular class at North Carolina State University is Black Popular Culture: From the Blues to Afrofuturism. His favorite word is the Kwanzaa principle “KUJICHAGULIA” – Self Determination.
ALEX WEISS & DIFFERENT DRUM is a versatile ensemble, based in Raleigh/Durham North Carolina, that takes the rich ethnic sounds of Africa & Latin America and blends them with original compositions & jazz standards.
