Wilmington’s Kwanzaa Celebration Welcomes New Leadership and Tradition
Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration honouring African heritage, will continue in Wilmington under new leadership. Richard Watson, director of Culture Restoration Project Inc., has taken over organising the event after years of community traditions. The festival, observed from December 26th to January 1st, brings people together through cultural performances and shared values.
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 during the Black Power movement to help African Americans reconnect with their roots. Inspired by African harvest festivals, it blends traditions into a unifying observance for people of African descent. The name itself comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning 'first fruits'.
For over 30 years, Wilmington’s celebrations were led by the African Connection. In 2020, the Wilmington Kwanzaa Collective took charge, hosting annual events centred on the seven guiding principles, known as the Nguzo Saba: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. These gatherings included cultural performances and community discussions. Now, Culture Restoration Project Inc. will carry on the tradition. Watson stresses the importance of including everyone—elders, children, and adults—in the festivities. The celebration remains open to people of all faiths and backgrounds, focusing on shared heritage and communal bonds.
The transition ensures Kwanzaa’s legacy in Wilmington will keep growing. Watson’s leadership aims to maintain the festival’s core values while engaging the entire community. The week-long event will continue to highlight African American culture through its time-honoured principles and gatherings.
