The Art of Black Dance and Music perform dances from the harvest festival Kwanzaa
Description:
In this clip dance and drumming company The Art of Black Dance and Music, under the guidance of Artistic Director DiAma Battle, performs harvest dances from Guinea, Gambia, Nigeria, and Senegal, and explain the seven principles of Kwanzaa (one for each day of celebration). Overall the program explores the harvest festival Kwanzaa, an African and Mid-Eastern holiday now celebrated by African Americans as a way of identifying with their African heritage. To accomplish this, the dance and drumming company The Art of Black Dance and Music, under the guidance of Artistic Director DiAma Battle, performs harvest dances from Guinea, Gambia, Nigeria, and Senegal, and explain the seven principles of Kwanzaa (one for each day of celebration). Host Barbara Barrow-Murray speaks with DiAma about the difference between African and African American celebrations of Kwanzaa, the meaning of the seven principles (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith), how these principles are celebrated, and how more African Americans are celebrating both Kwanzaa and Christmas. The majority of the program consists of performances. Produced by Barbara Barrow-Murray. Directed by Eric Himes.
