About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 2025)
• feature Matunda Ya Kwanzaa CELEBRATING AFRICAN CULTURE IN ATHENS By Libba Beaucham arts@flagpole.com arts & culture. arts & culture • feature Cheers to New Year’s CELEBRATION FESTIVITIES IN ATHENS By Sam Lipkin editorial@flagpole.com A multi-day celebration of Kwanzaa will take place in Athens Dec. 26-31 with children’s activities, music and traditional drumming, a fashion show, community discussions and a panel with mayoral candidates, all free and open to the public. The local celebration, now in its fourth year, is organized by Dwight Acey, Mokah Johnson and other local educators, artists and volunteers to honor the cultural holiday in Athens. COURTESY OF DWIGHT ACEY Kwanzaa was created in Los Angeles in 1966 by scholar and activist Maulana Karenga to offer African Americans a way to honor and connect with African heritage, community values and collective respon sibility. Though not a direct response, the holiday was established in the wake of the Watts uprising in Los Angeles in 1965, which exposed police brutality and racial discrimination and was part of national conversations about racial inequality. Acey first experienced Kwanzaa when he was a teenager in 1968, and it made a lasting impression on him. “James Baldwin used to say that to be an African American is to be an African with no memory, an American with no privilege. [Kwanzaa] gave us a chance to look at who we were, what our past was, what our history was and to bring us together. It was a kind of cohesion.” Today, Acey continues to celebrate Kwanzaa with his family. “My children celebrated it, and now their children celebrate it.” “Kwanzaa” comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits,” and refers to the harvest celebrations of many African cultures. Dr. Karenga added an extra “a” so the name would have seven letters to represent the seven principles that are honored during the holiday. “The ceremony involves candle light ing. It uses a kinara. It has seven candles with three red, three green and one black. Each candle represents one of the seven principles,” Acey said. Those principles include Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self- determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative eco nomics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativ ity) and Imani (faith). Acey described these principles, saying, “Umoja means unity, that we should all work together for the benefit of each other. Kujichagulia is self-determination, which means that people should be able to speak for themselves... They should have their individuality and define themselves. Then there’s Ujima, which is collective work and responsibility. That can mean simple things, like if you’re in your neighborhood and there’s trash on the street, you can pick it up... The next one is Ujamaa, which is cooperative economics. That means we have a responsibility to spend some money, at least, with people in our own community... Then there’s Nia, purpose. We need to have direction, and Kwanzaa directs us into a cohesive com munity. Then there is Kuumba, creativity. Black people are some of the most creative people in the world. And the last one is Imani, which is faith. To have faith in our people, in our past, in our history. We have a glorious history. To have faith in our leaders and faith in our ability to make our lives better.” When Acey moved to Athens, he saw that there was not an active community Kwanzaa celebration. He connected with Johnson and other organizers to begin a Kwanzaa celebration in Athens open to everyone of all backgrounds. “Kwanzaa has no religious component... Kwanzaa is designed to bring people from different religious and political backgrounds together. It’s open to any body,” Acey emphasized. Learn more about Kwanzaa and how its principles are alive in Athens at these free events: Friday, Dec. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m. First AME Church at 521 Hull St. Umoja (Unity): Cultural Competence Strat egies for Community Advancement. Guest Speaker Jennine Labuzan-DeLane Saturday, Dec. 27, 2:30-4:30 p.m. ACC Library at 2025 Baxter St. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): Edu cation as a Healing Practice. Hosted by Christina Hylton Sunday, Dec. 28, 2:30-4:30 p.m. ACC Library at 2025 Baxter St. Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility): Community Conversations with Athens’ Mayoral Candidates. Co-hosted by Kir- rena Gallagher and Rick Dunn Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2:30-4:30 p.m. ACC Library at 2025 Baxter St. Nia (Purpose): Children’s Reading and Craft Program. Led by Freda Giles Wednesday, Dec. 31, 3-6 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 780 Timothy Rd. Kuumba (Creativity): Fashion Show, Com munity Potluck, Live Performances. Hosted by Mokah Johnson serving as Mistress of Ceremonies © the UGA students leave town and v the chill settles in for the end-of- the-year holidays, New Year’s Eve celebra tions are a cheery spark in the middle of an otherwise barren time of year for Athens. If you’re still deciding on plans, consider these events happening right here at home. Athens Rock Lobsters Akins Ford Arena * 6 p.m. (doors), 7 p.m. (game) If you want to end the year with your claws up, the Athens Rock Lobsters have you covered. Athens’ hometown hockey team will be taking on the Columbus River Dragons. Win or lose, there will be a New Year’s Eve celebration with a post-game party inside the arena following the game, complete with a balloon drop and confetti. Tickets are $28-$50, available at classic center.com. The Original Splitz Rand Athentic Brewing Co. • 8 p.m. This Motown New Year’s Eve party presented by Aubrey Entertainment will feature music by The Original Splitz Band from 9 p.m. until midnight, so you can dance the night away and groove on into 2026. There will be a ham drop at midnight. Crab & Soul Catering will be onsite, and tickets include a $5 drink voucher. All ages are welcome, and the drink voucher can be used towards non- alcoholic drinks. Tickets are $20 at the door and in advance, available at athentic brewing.com. Riackberry Smoke, Nat Myers The Classic Center Theatre • 8 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (show) Atlanta country rock band Black berry Smoke will be ringing in the new year with the sounds of its home state. Its eighth studio album that was released last year, Be Right Here, draws inspiration from Southern rock, blues- leaning classic rock and rootsy vintage country. The songwriting is rich with relat able storytelling. Opening for this show is Nat Myers, a blues singer-songwriter with a similar knack for telling tales. Tickets are $58-$333, available at classiccenter.com. Classic City Wrestling 40 Watt Club • 8 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (show) Looking for a different kind of bell to ring in the new year? Classic City Wrestling is hosting one of its high-energy evenings of pro-wrestling with a side of rock and roll. The main match will see Najasism defend the championship against the returning Cody Fluffman. On stage, Nashville-based queer Southern rock band Thelma and the Sleaze will be jamming out. Tickets are $20 for gen eral admission, $25 for second row and $30 for first row, available at 40watt.com. Rumours Georgia Theatre * 8 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (show) For over a decade, this Atlanta-based band has recreated Fleetwood Mac’s golden era in concert with stunning authenticity. Each member of the group brings their own unique touch that honors Fleetwood Mac’s legacy while delivering an allure that goes beyond simple imitation. Attendees can expect to hear a journey of iconic classic songs that defined a generation. Tickets are $48.53, available at georgiatheatre.com. Devils of the New Frontier, Trycoh, Vicious Devil Nowhere Bar • 8 p.m. (doors), 9 p.m. (show) For some people, it’s hard to beat the combination of live music and pool tables. Devils of the New Frontier will headline, a power-pop trio made up of Steven Cham bliss, Andy Pope and Brandon McDearis. The three-piece instrumental band Trycoh craning Blackberry Smoke SIXSTRINGSOUTHERNPRODUCTIONS will deliver its self-described “brawny” rock and roll, sandwiched between a double dose of devil. Opener Vicious Devil is a rock band formed by Curtiss Pernice, Ballard Lese- mann and Larry Tenner. Tickets are $10, with more info available at instagram.com/ nowherebarathensga. Guth Night Dance Party Cine • 9:30 p.m. Practice those dance moves like plucking cobwebs and shooing bats for the Goth Night Dance Party. DJ Goth Dad, DJ Crowe, DJ Tomb Lily and Twin Powers will keep the music going until late night, spinning a gloomy mix of goth, post-punk, deathrock, industrial and more. These DJs are veter ans of the goth scene and have established a welcoming home downtown with their regular dance parties. Tickets are $10, with more info available at athenscine.com.0 DECEMBER 24, 2025 & DECEMBER 31, 2025 ■ FLAGPOLE.COM
