History of the Uhuru / Imani Foundation Kwanzaa Celebration:
1987 - Dr. Rev. and Mrs. Samuel & Ruth Varner hold a Kwanzaa
celebration in thier Virginia Beach home.
1988 - Dr. Rev. and Mrs. Samuel & Ruth Varner hold a Kwanzaa
celebration at Providence United Church of Christ in
Chesapeake Virginia. Clarence and Dianne Vincent host a
Kwanzaa event in their home. The Varners and the Vincents
decided to begin working together to form Uhuru African
American Cultural Society. Portsmouth Virginia Councilman
Johnny and Regina Clements host an event in thier home. They
later join Uhuru.
1989 - Uhuru hosts it's first Kwanzaa celebration in Portsmouth
Virginia at Manor (Wilson) High School. Dr. E. Curtis
Alexander and family begins hosting Kwanzaa events in his
home. Uhuru begins hosting celebrations in various churches
in the Hampton Roads area. Several churches in the area
begin having Kwanzaa celebrations with Uhuru's assistance.
Uhuru hosts the event on December 27th as this was seen as
the second Kwanzaa event of the organization history.
December 27th is the second day of Kwanzaa and it's
principle is Self Determination.
Click here to watch a video from a television interview for this event !
1990 - 1992 Uhuruu continues in Portsmouth with the event.
1993 - 1994 The celebration moves to Norfolk State University.
1995 - Uhuru moves the celebration to W.E. Hunton Y.M.C.A. in
Norfolk, Virginia.
1995 - The Imani Foundation is formed out of Uhuru's mentorship
group for males named Manhood Through Uplift.
1996 - The Imani Foundation hosts it's first Kwanzaa event at The
Christian Temple in the Park Place area of Norfolk, Virginia.
1999 - Uhuru asks the (newly) formed Imani Foundation to continue
hosting the Kwanzaa event at the Hunton Y.M.C.A. to continue
the tradition. Elder Clarence Vincent, President of Uhuru,
holds a ceremony naming 1988 as the birth of Uhuru/Imani's
December 27th Kwanzaa tradition. Elder Clarence Vincent
becomes a honorable ancestor in 2001.
2004 - A Blizzard prevents the annual event from taking place in the
Hunton Y.M.C.A. The Imani Foundation holds a private event
for it's members to keep the event's tradition alive.
2005 - Our annual event continued......