OMAHA, Nebraska – Thursday is the first day of Kwanzaa.
The festival centers on African American history and culture.
According to organizers in Omaha, the occasion has been honored since the late 1960s.
They said that Thursday night’s Kwanzaa Kickoff event at the Essential Gathering On near 42nd and Saratoga streets was more than just a joy; it was also an opportunity to inform people about the complete schedule of Kwanzaa-related events taking place through next Wednesday.
They hope that people will attend these events with their family to learn more about the occasion.
“Omaha needs to know that there’s a cultural heritage celebration that’s happening, recognizing the triumphs, the struggles, and contributions to society that African people have created—people of African descent have made,” Shomari Huggins told the newspaper.
There are so many contributions, and it’s vital that we continue to educate and inform young people, as well as elderly people like myself. “I learn something new every year.”
Organizers think that newer generations should be taught about Kwanzaa because many of their community’s youth are unaware of its significance.