Events

The Akron-area's Kwanzaa celebration sponsored by the African-American Cultural Association will begin Sunday and runthrough Friday.

Sunday's Umoga (Unity) program will be at 4 p.m., Womb Expression Lounge, 915 E.Market St., Akron. The host is Akron African United Front.

Monday's Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) program will be 6 p.m., at OscarRitchie Hall, Kent State University. The host is Kent State Center
for Pan African Culture.

Tuesday's Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) program will be at 6 p.m. atGus Johnson Community Center, 1015 S. Hawkins Ave., Akron. The host isRipples/W.A.V.E.S.

Wednesday's Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) program will be at 6 p.m. at MountCalvary Baptist Church, 442 Bell St., Akron. The church is the host.

Thursday's Nia (Purpose) will be at 6 p.m. at the Buchtel Cluster/Centenary UnitedMethodist Church, 1310 Superior Ave., Akron. The host is the Methodistchurch's men's group.

Friday's Kuumba (Creativity) program will be at 2 p.m. at Saferstein Towers II,585 Diagonal Road, Akron. The hosts are Saferstein Towers ResidentsCouncil and Greater Akron-Canton Chapter Association of Black SocialWorkers.

The Jan. 1 Imani (Faith) program is to be spent with family and friends.

All the events are free and open to the public.

Kwanzaa is based on the traditional African harvest festival. The word Kwanzaacomes from the Swahili phrase for ''first fruits of the harvest.''

It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga; the celebration remindsAfrican-Americans to combine traditional African practices with theirgoals.

Each of the seven days of the celebration is designated to stress NguzoSaba, Swahili words that mean the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, on whichthe holiday is based.