Poetry, food and music mark holiday event

Published December 2, 2016

Students and faculty members danced to traditional African music and listened to poetry Thursday before heading over to the brightly decorated tables to taste Karamu as part of the annual Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration at Cal State Long Beach.

The Department of Africana Studies put on the event to celebrate its 50th anniversary of the holiday. Dr. Maulana Karenga, CSULB professor and department chair of Africana Studies, headed this year’s event called, “Kwanzaa, The Nguzo Saba and Our Constant Striving: Repairing, Renewing and Remaking the World,” held at the USU Ballrooms.

After the readings and songs, those in attendance lined up to taste Karamu, a West African word meaning feast. Among the items offered were vegetable pakora, samosas, fruit and water.

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Karenga, and is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. The African American and Pan-American holiday celebrates family, community and culture.