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WINSTON-SALEM — The annual city-wide Kwanzaa celebration hosted by Triad Cultural Arts will be held Dec. 26-Jan. 1. Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits of the harvest” in the African language Kiswahili, is a unique African-American celebration with focus on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce and self-improvement.

Festivities will be hybrid this year and will feature family-oriented activities, including African drumming, music, inspirational messages, panel discussions and youth activities. Dr. Felecia Piggott Long, author and educator, will host the events.

Most programs begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise indicated and will be broadcast live on the Triad Cultural Arts Facebook page, facebook.com/TriadCulturalArts/.

The Kwanzaa committee would like to thank Truliant Federal Credit Union, Food Lion, and the sponsor organizations for contributing to this year’s celebration.

For more information, go to www.triadculturalarts.org or call 336-757-8556.

Kwanzaa schedule

• Sunday, Dec. 26 — Umoja (Unity)

The Winston-Salem Urban League will open the Citywide Kwanzaa Celebration with a night of unity. Join in for an engaging speaker and cultural art to celebrate the joys of the culture. This will be a hybrid event -both virtual and in person.

• Monday, Dec. 27 — Kujichagulia (self-determination)

Winston-Salem Delta Fine Arts will use the Kwanzaa platform to officially announce the 50th anniversary celebration of its founding in 1972.  The Kujichagulia principle of self-determination — defining ourselves, naming ourselves, creating for ourselves, speaking for ourselves- epitomizes Delta Fine Arts’ mission to recognize, nurture and expand African-American artistic creations. Program participants will be Legacy Honoree Brandon Coley, winner of the Delta Fine Arts 50th anniversary logo design competition; and Trail Blazer Award co-recipients Marvette Aldrich and Barbara Eure, first exhibitors at the original Delta Arts Center in 1982. Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble will offer the cultural expression, Dr. Felicia Piggott-Long will present the libation and the Honorable Judge Denise Hartsfield will give the charge to the community. Other Delta Fine Arts board members will round out the remaining program presentations.

• Tuesday, Dec. 28 — Ujima (collective work and responsibility)

An old school talent show: The Big 4 schools produced outstanding vocalists and musicians who went on to become professional recording artists entertaining audiences throughout the Triad and beyond. During this Kwanzaa celebration, The Big 4 Alumni Association takes you back to those “glory days” to relive the talent shows with some of the artists who lit up the stages in the auditoriums of Anderson, Atkins, Carver and Paisley.

Performing are Big 4 High School’s own Legendary Napper Gospel Singers, renowned jazz artist Joe Robinson, R&B group of Sylvania Wilder, Carlotta Samuels and Jackie Sinclair and the inspirational soul stirring sound of Rev. Sam Hickerson.

• Wednesday, Dec. 29 — Ujamaa (cooperative-economics)

The Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce will participate in this year’s Kwanzaa celebration. The WSBCC members will present a skit that will focus on supporting African-American-owned businesses. This skit will show how spending in the community where we live creates jobs, broadens the resource base for entrepreneurs and creates opportunities to network that will help grow small and medium sized businesses. The skit will be between 15-20 minutes and will be virtual. A speed vendor fair with local black businesses will be available during the virtual program.

• Thursday, Dec. 30 — Nia (purpose)

Brown & Douglas Recreation Center invites you to join in person or to stream the celebration of the Kwanzaa principle, Nia, via The City of Winston-Salem’s YouTube page. Featured will be e a live performance by Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble. Keynote address will be delivered by Rev. Dr. John Mendez. Inspiration Award recipients are Frankie L. Gist, HOPE Dealers Outreach and Terrence Petree, TP is my Hero Foundation. Live on City of Winston-Salem’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/c/CityofWinstonSalem-TV

• Friday, Dec. 31 — Kuumba (creativity)

Celebrate Kuumba (creativity) with Forsyth County Public Library by learning how to make a Kwanzaa drum, discovering some diverse book recommendations, and learning how to make a collard green salad as part of your karamu (Kwanzaa feast).

Pick up a craft kit from any of the Forsyth County Public Library locations to make a Kwanzaa drum, necklace, and/or bracelet from Dec. 20-Dec. 30. Kwanzaa craft kits are limited, so please contact your local branch for availability: Carver School Road Branch Library, Central Library, Clemmons Branch Library, Paddison Memorial Library, Lewisville Branch Library, Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center, Reynolda Manor Branch Library, Rural Hall Branch Library, Southside Branch Library, and Walkertown Branch Library.

• Saturday, Jan. 1 — Imani (faith), noon

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Emancipation Association will host its annual Emancipation Day Celebration. The guest speaker is Rev. Dr. Dwight Hash Sr., pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Attorney Reba Warren will perform the annual reading of The Emancipation Proclamation, and scholarship awards and recognitions will be conducted by Daniel Piggott. Other program participants are Sen. Paul Lowe Jr., Rep. Evelyn A. Terry and Forsyth County Commissioner Fleming El-Amin. Triad Cultural Arts will close out the Kwanzaa celebration by lighting the 7th candle at this program in honor of the principle, imani (faith).