Mayor Ras J. Baraka, members of the Newark Municipal Council, Mayor’s Office of Arts, Cultural Development and Tourism Executive Director Gwen Moten, Deputy Mayor for International Relations and Diaspora Affairs Ugo Nwaokoro, Barbara J. King, President of the City of Newark’s African Commission, and other dignitaries will observe Kwanzaa with a Kinara candle-lighting ceremony today, Wednesday, December 27, at 4 p.m. in the City Hall First Floor Rotunda, located at 920 Broad Street.

There will be an African Market from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.. ShopRite of Newark is sponsoring the event.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Segun Shabaka, Chairperson of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Kawaida Organization (based on the seven principles of Kwanzaa). Special recognition will be given to writer and scholar Maulana Karenga who created Kwanzaa in 1966, as a seven-day celebration of African-American principles and values, family, community, and culture.

Kwanzaa unites the African-American community around “Kawaida,” a Swahili term for “tradition and reason.”  The observance celebrates the seven days of Kwanzaa’s great principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Wednesday, December 27

3 p.m. to 7 p.m.          African Market

4 p.m.                          Ingathering with music and dance

4:15 p.m.                    Program begins