Observed from December 26 to January 1, Kwanzaa uplifts African heritage and
highlights the seven guiding principles: unity; self-determination; collective work and responsibility; cooperative economics; purpose; creativity; and faith. Members of the Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition have hosted Kwanzaa celebrations for over 35 years, and woven into this year’s festivities is the theme “Ubuntu,” a Zulu phrase meaning “I am, because we are.”
The opening ceremony encompasses the principle of umoja (unity), and will take place at City Hall from 4-7 p.m. on Dec. 26. A longtime member of the coalition, Delores Radney, compares this event to a family reunion.
“There’s nothing more beautiful than the first day when we all come together—the drumming, people smiling, and we’re greeting each other because we haven’t seen each other in a while,” she said. “And, of course, celebrating the principles that bind us, which are at the real heart of the Kwanzaa celebration. That’s what I love so much.”
Paul Adell Jr., the current chairman of the coalition, grew up playing the drums and attending Kwanzaa events held by the coalition with his father.
“I grew up at the Kwanzaa table, celebrating it from an early age. My father was very active in the early 90s and 2000s,” he said. “Every year, I look forward to embracing our community, seeing the folks that we’ve built relationships with over our long history here in Rochester and also looking forward to seeing new faces.”
Rochester boasts a deep legacy of abolition, industry and resilience. During Kwanzaa, local storytellers, historians and cultural keepers highlight the rich traditions and Black history that inspire and guide the community forward. On Saturday, Dec. 28 at noon, the Memorial Art Gallery will host Kwanzaa Celebration of Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility), which includes a screening and panel discussion of “July ’64,” a local film produced by Chris Christopher and directed by Carvin Eison chronicling the race riot of 1964 that brought Rochester into the national spotlight. Following the screening, there will be a discussion with community members who witnessed and lived through the riots.
Dr. Kiah Nyame, founder of Ujima Rochester and longtime partner of the coalition, said the culminating day of Kwanzaa, imani (faith), on New Year’s Day, is a time to reflect, evaluate the present situation and commit to a more productive future.
“We sit down and write out a plan for the upcoming year,” he said. “Many of us write down the things that we would like to accomplish in the year ahead. On the day of Imani, we have the faith that we can do it.”
Overall, the work of the Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition emphasizes the importance of celebrating in community.
“People of African descent are communal people … It’s integrated into our culture, into our beingness and just who we are,” said Adell Jr. “It’s always going to be about coming together and embracing unity.”
Follow Rochester Kwanzaa Coalition’s Facebook page for updates.
Aries Jordan is a contributor to CITY.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2024.
