“Kwanzaa does not substitute for Christmas,” says Oba William King. An actor and poet, King has organized the third annual Poetic Kwanzaa Celebration, an evening of poetry, music, and dance. “We’re not looking for replacements. It’s an African American end-of-the-year, harvest celebration gathering family and reflecting on the year’s accomplishments. It doesn’t compete with Hanukkah or Chinese New Year or any other cultural end-of-the-year celebration.”
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Created in 1966 by black-studies professor Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa means “first fruits of the harvest” in Swahili. It’s observed in the U.S. from December 26 to January 1 by lighting a candle each day, reflecting on the principle each day represents, and giving presents that express these principles.
The Poetic Kwanzaa Celebration takes place on Tuesday night, December 27, at DeJoie’s Bistro, 230 W. Kinzie. Doors open at 5:30, with the program starting two hours later. Admission is free until 7:00, then it’s $5. For more information, call DeJoie’s at 755-1356 or William King at 761-6552.
