The African Canadian Heritage Association celebrates Kwanzaa

By Louis March

The African Canadian Heritage Association celebrated its Annual Kwanzaa Celebration at Warden Woods Community Centre last Sunday, December 7th with a packed house. The celebration featured a Kwanzaa educational presentation by the program’s children’s group, African drumming and dancing performances, an African vendors market and a Karamu, a Kwanzaa feast.

ACHA which celebrated its 50th year anniversary this year, continues to be a leader in developing socially conscious Africentric programming for children, youth and families in the community. The program is based at the Centennial College – Progress Campus every Saturday, during the school year.

Akwatu Khenti

Akwatu Khenti, the newly elected President delivered a passionate speech committing to continue building on the ACHA legacy and to ensure that the program continues to provide an environment where children, youth and families can work and learn together in positive spaces that are free from anti-Black racism, which is embedded in the many institutions in which they must function on a daily basis.

Khenti acknowledged that it will be a major challenge given that the program is funded and maintained by volunteers. He used the opportunity to highlight Kujichagulia, the Kwanzaa principle of self-determination which is one of the driving forces behind the program.