In the heart of the community, the annual Kwanzaa celebration brought together neighbors, families, and creatives to honor African heritage and culture.

Kwanzaa is a cultural event celebrated by millions all over the world, as well as community members here in Redding.

In honor of the principle of Umoja, or unity, the African American Museum held an opening unity celebration hosted by singer Shekhinah B. and lit the first candle on the Kinara, the traditional Kwanzaa candelabra. The museum has additional events planned to match the principle of each day of Kwanzaa:

Thursday was the first day of Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of African American culture. To kick off the holiday people gathered at the California Capitol. "Kwanzaa, it is just an amazing opportunity to go take a deep dive for people of African descent to go all the way back to Africa,

Each year, millions of people around the U.S. ring in the new year with Kwanzaa, the annual celebration of the African American family, community

Women of Progress of Mississippi holds 46th annual Kwanzaa celebration in partnership with the Two Mississippi Museums

Kwanzaa, which begins today, is a seven-day celebration created during the civil rights movement that focuses on cultivating and appreciating the lives of African Americans, their past and present.