Kwanzaa Celebration and Rites of Passage Graduation

In the spirit of NIA, the community will celebrate the third day of Kwanzaa, “Ujima” – collective work and responsibility – meaning to build and maintain our community together, making our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and solving them together. The event will feature an African libation, the West Las Vegas Arts Center Drum Ensemble, an elder community honor and the graduation for girls and boys in the Rites of Passage program. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-African language that is the most widely spoken African language. Nia means “to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community, in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.” For more information, visit www.ArtsLasVegas.org or call 702.229.4800 or 702.229.ARTS (2787).