KWANZAA UNDERWAY

Unity within and without the individual will be the theme of a citywide Kwanzaa celebration sponsored by the NAACP on New Year's Day.

Jan. 1 marks the last day of the weeklong African-American cultural holiday called Kwanzaa. This is the third year the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will host festivities. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cape Civic Center, 232 Broadway.

"Kwanzaa is a nonreligious, social celebration paying tributes to cultural roots of our African ancestry," said NAACP vice president Dr. Bernice Coar Cobb. "Our theme this year is the Kwanzaa principle umoja: Unity. We are hoping to involve all members of the family no matter how young or how old, and we are also really going to begin to emphasize diet, nutrition and healthy living to the point that we de-emphasize sugar."

There are seven principles of Kwanzaa that serve as guides for daily living. The principles, along with the basic symbols of Kwanzaa, use traditional and modern items to reflect concepts that evolved from the life and struggle of African-American people.

Cobb said speakers will be on hand to emphasize how a healthy diet relates to internal unity of the body. However, good nutrition is only a part of internal unity, she said. The Mid America Teen Challenge New Creation choir will perform and speak to participants about the importance of keeping the body cleansed, she said.

"Our admission fee to this event is a piece of fruit to keep the focus on health," she said. "That fruit will be used for dessert and for snacking and for activities while we are at the Civic Center. Fruit is also a celebration of children."

Cobb said external unity will also be emphasized. Guest speakers, vendors and artists from throughout Southeast Missouri have been invited to display their talents so that the program will bring together not only the Cape Girardeau community but also the entire Bootheel community, she said.

"Because we have been working together more in our community here and in our Bootheel community, this to me will highlight what we've been doing to bring together our community," she said.

The program will also include two Kwanzaa traditions: a candle-lighting ceremony and a libation ceremony. These ceremonies will be overseen by Ray Fambro, a Cape Girardeau resident who celebrates Kwanzaa annually.

There is no charge to vendors wishing to participate in the event.

To register or for more information call (573) 334-9043.

What's Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is a Kiswahili word which means celebrating the first fruits. The weeklong holiday, which runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, was developed in September 1965 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a black studies professor who felt African Americans needed a holiday that paid tribute to the cultural roots of African ancestry.

Seven principles of Kwanzaa

--Umoja (unity)

--Kujichagulia (self-determination)

--Ujima (collective work and responsibility)

--Ujamaa (cooperative economics)

--Nia (purpose)

--Kuumba (creativity)

--Imani (faith)

Seven Kwanzaa symbols

--straw mat

--candle holder

--ears of corn

--fruit

--bread

--gift and cup