Sankofa Community Empowerment NY started off Kwanzaa 2015 phenomenally! Their Celebration of Umoja event was hosted at the St. Philips church in Brooklyn, NY, welcoming traditional Pan African celebrators while introducing the tradition to those experiencing it for the first time. At the opening of the doors, guests were welcomed with food and the children were gathered for a story as guests continued to arrive. The program started with a brief introduction and explanation of what Kwanzaa is, followed by libation, and then an award ceremony honoring community members who embodied a different Nguzo Saba principle. In between each award were crowd moving performances and, throughout the event, the amazing vendors were patronized, keeping the dollar circulating in our community where it belongs!

See some images of the event below, and be sure to visit Sankofa Community Empowerment NY for more on the organization, upcoming events and ways to donate to Sankofa so they may continue to produce amazing and imperative events for our community! Umoja!

Photos by NayMarie for Taji Mag