Founder of the Ngozi Farm and Cultural Sanctuary, Ireka Jelani with her son Baruti Jelani at the 2022 Kwanzaa celebrations.
Ngozi Farm and Cultural Sanctuary through the kind support of the Division of Culture- Prime Minister’s Office and the National Cultural Foundation will host its fourth annual Kwanzaa Festival at their Turners Hall, St. Andrew, location on December 28th, 2024.
The event is being held under the theme Ujima- Working Collectively, Empowering People, Creating Sustainable Futures and will feature a vendor’s harvest market commencing at 10am, a Blessing Ceremony at 3pm led by All Nation Drummers followed by messages from the Member of Parliament for St. Andrew, Senator, Dr. Rommel Springer, Senator John King, Special Advisor on Culture and Cultural Heritage, in the Division of Culture – Prime Minister’s Office, and a Cultural Presentation at 4:30pm which will feature performances from PoeTree Barbados , Pinelands Creative Workshop, Haynesville Youth Club, and Rite Side of Red.
Founder of Ngozi Farm and Cultural Sanctuary, Ireka Jelani said that Kwanzaa is important for persons to recognise their African roots, but also begin to reconnect to their culture and traditions to reground themselves, to be more resilient in these trying times.
“The theme of this event is Ujima which is the 3rd principle of Kwanzaa which speaks to collective work and responsibility. Hence it offers an opportunity to revitalise the spirit of community- bringing families and communities together to work collectively whether to support or build businesses, reconnect to our traditions and awakening a culture consciousness or to reground ourselves spiritually, affording greater resiliency as individuals, families and as communities. To support this focus, each year we have created a space within the Harvest Market, where location businesses has the opportunity to showcase and sell their unique local products, and this year is no different. Equally important to the Kwanzaa celebration, is the blessing ceremony which provides the opportunity to express our thankfulness for the first fruits, the empowering people, and the ability to promotes sustainable livelihoods,” she said.
Ireka Jelani invited the public to celebrate Kwanzaa at Ngozi Farms and Cultural Sanctuary and noted that there is a free shuttle service that will be transporting persons to their Turner Hall, St Andrew location.
“We have a shuttle that will be leaving Golden Square Freedom Park at 12:30pm and 2pm which will be bringing persons to our Kwanzaa celebrations. The bus will make a short stop by
St. Thomas Parish Church to collect persons who would wish to board the bus from that location. There will also be two return shuttles at 7pm and 8pm which would leave Turners Hall, St. Andrew and make a brief stop at St. Thomas Parish Church before returning to Golden Square, Freedom Park,” she said.
Ireka Jelani, wished to thank the Division of Culture- Prime Minister’s Office, National Cultural Foundation, Peter Boos Foundation and other contributors, for their assistance in making this event a success. For more information, persons can follow @culturebarbados on Instagram or Contact Ireka Jelani at 283-6987