WINTER PARK, Fla. – Dozens poured into the Winter Park Community Center to celebrate Kwanzaa. It’s where organizers and eventgoers say the seven-day celebration is all about honoring African heritage and coming together as a community.
The Equity Council is holding its 26th annual Kwanzaa celebration, featuring vendors, African music, traditional attire, and more.
“As people of color, we need to be in tune with this. We need to celebrate each other, but don’t think it’s strictly for Black people,” said Pamela Bussey, co-host of the Winter Park Kwanzaa Celebration.
Kwanzaa began in 1966 as a celebration of African heritage, centered on seven guiding principles that honor culture, unity, and responsibility to one another.
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According to The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, each day of Kwanzaa represents a different principle.
- Umoja (Unity)
- Kujichagulia (Self-determination)
- Ujima (Collective work and responsibility)
- Ujamaa (Cooperative economics)
- Nia (Purpose)
- Kuumba (Creativity)
- Imani (Faith)
Here in Central Florida, the tradition started in 1988. By 1999, the first community-wide Kwanzaa celebration was held in the historic Black community of Hannibal Square in Winter Park, bringing people together to honor heritage, history, and community.
“We are determined not to let our history die. We are a people who need to educate each other about our roots and our family-based cultural celebrations,” Bussey said.
Organizers will host several events during the seven-day celebration, including a day dedicated to supporting Black-owned businesses.
On Imani (faith), which is the last day of Kwanzaa and also New Year’s Day — the organization will head over to Daytona Beach and release food and other gifts into the ocean to wrap up the holiday weekend and give gifts to the ancestors. The ceremony will be held at at 9 a.m. at Sun Splash Park.