Father's First Fruits

Celebrating America's Christian and African roots !

A Varner family Kwanzaa event

Thursday December 29th, 2011

Entrance fee:  FREE

     A donation of $1 is requested per person

     to benefit The Dwelling Place Homeless Shelter

Doors open at 6:45 PM

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

4100 Va. Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23510
757-385-3000

Enjoy Song, Dance, Poetry, Ritual, and Celebration !

Enjoy Soulful Line Dancing and Gospel Line Dancing !

Worship Almighty Father God.

Celebrate Christ, celebrate Country, celebrate Culture !

 

This event is an extension of the Kwanzaa celebrations held by Rev. Dr. Samuel and Ruth Suggs Varner since 1970. These events placed worshiping Father God first, and celebrating Kwanzaa as secondary. These celebrations began in their church Nazarene Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) in Brooklyn, New York. These celebrations continued in Columbus Ohio at the church developed by the couple named Advent Community Church (United Church of Christ). Advent was the first church in Columbus Ohio to embrace and host an annual Kwanzaa celebration and even hosted events that involved Dr. Ron Karenga (One of Kwanzaa's original founders from the US Organization) and his Wife. Upon Dr. Varner's move to Chesapeake Virginia to lead Providence (United Church of Christ). Providence became the first church in Hampton Roads' Virginia to host a Kwanzaa celebration in 1987. From this event members of the community led by Mr. & Mrs. Clarence and Dianne Vincent developed the Uhuruu African American Cultural Society which led the area in hosting annual Kwanzaa events. The Varner's held a private Kwanzaa event in their home until the passing of Dr. VArner in 2009. The Varner family, led by Seko Varner presents an annual Gospel flavored Christian based Kwanzaa event worshiping the Almighty Father, and in recognition of America's Christian and African roots. 

Click below to download the event's program

 

 LEARN THE GOSPEL LINE DANCES !!!!!

http://gospellinedancing.blogspot.com

 

Kwanzaa was developed by Americans of African descent based on broad cultural practices from the African continent. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the term Kwanza which means "First Fruits". An additional letter "a" was added at the end of the term when naming the celebration Kwanzaa to represent the United States of America. The last two letter "a"s in Kwanzaa represent Afro America. The term African American is now considered more politically correct.

Kwanzaa is not a religious celebration and has been embraced by many American Christans who wish to celebrate their African roots.  Admittedly many of Kwanzaa initial embracers were Americans who were critical with aspects of America's culture, some of which were considered radical in the media's eyes.

 

Disclosure:

Although this event and this page are on the Imani Foundation webpage, this event is not a Imani Foundation event. It is an event entirely sponsored by Seko VArner and the Varner family. Seko VArner was the president of the Imani Foundation from 2005 until 2011. The Imani Foundation is a not-for-profit organization which promotes the Uplift of People of Afrikan descent (I.e. Afrikan-Americans, Caribbeans, Bahamians West Indians, Latinos, Haitians, Afro-Brazilians, Afrikan-Europeans, Afrikan-Indians, etc.). The Imani Foundation's pursuits are family and community oriented activities which uses Afrikan and Afrikan-influenced cultural practices to re-immerse people of Afrikan descent into our culture. The Imani Foundation is not a religious organization. The Imani Foundation does not discriminate on any protected basis.