45th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration: December 28th, Ujima

45th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
Doors 6pm | Program 6:30PM

WorldBeat Cultural Center will be celebrating its 45th Annual Celebration with 4 of the 7 days of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an African American Holiday celebrated from the 26th of December to the 1st of January. The annual Kwanzaa holiday was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga to celebrate and reaffirm family, community, and culture.

Kwanzaa was a celebration that was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of African traditions and Nguzu Saba, the “seven principles of African Heritage” which Karenga said “is a communitarian African philosophy”.

Each night will feature Special guest speakers or performers, Ceremonial candle lighting and libation with drumming, poetry readings, and Karamu (the traditional feast and family get down).

Each evening will be hosted by MC Selah Black Sol

Day 3: Sunday, December 28th: Ujima, Collective Work & Responsibility

Keynote Speakers and Performer

Ayanna Gregory
Ayanna Gregory is an educator, singer, dramatist, and activist whose work is rooted in healing, truth-telling, and the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. The daughter of human rights icon Dick Gregory, she uses music, theater, and storytelling to create transformative experiences that inspire courage, community, and self-love. Through works such as Daughter of the Struggle and her global Change Maker programs, Gregory continues to uplift audiences and empower new generations committed to justice and collective healing.

Shugri Said Salh
Shugri Said Salh is an award-winning author, nurse, and cultural storyteller whose memoir The Last Nomad chronicles her extraordinary journey from the Somali desert to life in the United States. Rooted in the oral traditions she learned from her grandmother, her work preserves Somali stories of resilience, identity, and survival while advocating for cultural memory and human connection. A recipient of multiple literary honors, Salh continues her mission as a storyteller, nurse, and community archivist in San Diego.

Performance by Tebe Zalango
Tebe Zalango brings the vibrant rhythms, songs, and movement of East Africa to the stage through powerful traditional performance. Their dynamic ensemble channels cultural pride, history, and community celebration through music and dance.