A symphony of percussion music rang out from the Sabin CDC site in Northeast Portland, spilling out into the street outside the open door. African drums accompanied a circle of children sitting at the rear of the recently enlarged community hall.
A group of kids joined in on dundun (or djun djun) drums, which are barrel-shaped drums played with a drumstick that form the music’s heartbeat, while another participant pounded two drumsticks together to keep up. More kids joined in around the circle, layering bass and tone on top of djembe drums, which are goblet-shaped drums played with the hands. Last to join was instructor Chuk Barber, who played a seven-eight beat on a clave, a portable percussion instrument.
Barber led the drummers into the last note after they had kept the rhythm for a short while. You wouldn’t believe that majority of them were playing African drums for the first time when you wandered into the middle.
Barber informed the kids that gathering around food or music is the simplest way to foster a sense of community. You discover ways to empower one another at that meeting, and before you know it, you have a community that is empowered and poses a danger to the current quo.
This year, Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration of African American culture that runs from December 26 to January 1. The drum circle was just one part of the afternoon events.
According to JT McElrath, coordinator of cultural activities and community outreach for Sabin Community Development Corp., Kwanzaa means “first fruits” in Swahili. That is the origin of the name. Additionally, it serves as a reminder of our origins and a reaffirmation of African ancestry and culture.
The event, which was organized by the nonprofit organization that promotes affordable housing, brought the community together on Saturday through food, art, and music to celebrate and teach kids about Kwanzaa.
In order to meet the housing needs of African Americans affected by gentrification, Sabin CDC was established in 1991. Although the center has previously hosted Kwanzaa celebrations in its Center for ReEngagement, this year was the second time they did so.
According to Mitike Lyons, resident services coordinator for Sabin CDC, the goal of this space is to create a community area where we can invite other organizations to use it for free or at a reduced cost, let residents host events for themselves, and then host events like this for the community and residents.
Nikki Sandoval, an entertainer and literacy advocate who goes by the stage name Nikki Brown Clown, emceed the Kwanzaa event. Story time was held after the drum circle. Nikki read Latricia Smith and Phyllis G. Williams’ The Journey to Nguzo Saba: A Kwanzaa Story to the kids in order to teach them about the seven Kwanzaa ideals.
Nikki addressed the kids, “It took me a long time as a young girl to figure out what my purpose was.” The fifth principle is nia, or purpose. However, I do recall that I have always enjoyed reading and working with kids. My goal is to assist kids in reading books.
For the past ten years, Nikki has collaborated with Sabin CDC to encourage reading, cultural pride, and awareness among Black people. According to Nikki, there have been significant changes in the way diversity is embraced over that time.
Nikki, who describes herself as the first Black clown in Portland, said that celebrating Kwanzaa meant being able to openly and publicly celebrate my own culture, something I wasn’t always able to do as a Portlander. I felt embarrassed all the time, or, you know, pushed aside. Therefore, being able to just relish culture, cuisine, and literacy is pleasant.
The main goal of the event, according to McElrath, is to provide a venue for the African American community to congregate.
According to them, Kwanzaa was initially an African ceremony that was primarily held to honor African Americans’ history. We simply want to make sure that it is a place for the folks for whom the event is intended.
Nikki demonstrated lighting the Kinara, a seven-branched candle holder with red, green, and black candles, to close out the ceremony. Umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective effort and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economy), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith) are the new principles that are highlighted by the lighting of one candle each day.
According to Lyons, the preservation and prosperity of the Black community in this society have been largely dependent on the values of solidarity and group cooperation.
“One way Sabin CDC demonstrates their commitment to cultural celebrations and empowering the Black community is by centering the principles and teaching them to the next generation,” Lyons added.
According to Lyons, it’s fantastic to be able to teach children about Kwanzaa at an early age, make them feel proud of who they are, and foster a feeling of community. I believe that by giving the young people here a sense of belonging and importance, these Kwanzaa stories are as much theirs as the ones they are learning about.
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Chiara Profenna discusses faith, religion, and cultural ties. You may contact her at [email protected] or @chiaraprofenna, or 503-221-4327.
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