Kids & Family

Montclair Public Library Kwanzaa Celebration 25 Years Strong

Umoja Usaama Dance Company marks holiday with music and movement.

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The Montclair Public Library has been celebrating Kwanzaa for a quarter of a century.

Friends and neighbors gathered at the library to mark the holiday earlier this month with music and African dance by The Umoja Usaama Dance Company.

Yewande Kelley-Johnson of African Global Arts, and author of Let's Celebrate Kwanzaa, opened the event with a ceremonial lighting of the Kwanzaa candles as she announced the seven principles of Kwanzaa: 

  • Umoja (Unity)
  • Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
  • Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
  • Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
  • Nia (Purpose)
  • Kuumba (Creativity)
  • Imani (Faith)
The weeklong celebration of African heritage in African-American culture runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. 

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