VALDOSTA — The Southside Library will bring the community together as it begins its 15th annual Kwanzaa Celebration today.

Just one day after Christmas, people of African descent and other cultures in America and around the world began observing the seven day celebration known as Kwanzaa. Established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa was developed to commemorate the first harvest celebrations of Africa and to encourage unity and growth among the African American community. Locally, the Southside Library boosters have continued to spread the principals of Kwanzaa each year, while inviting youth and adults to participate in the celebration of heritage, education and exchange.

“One thing we try to foster through Kwanzaa is to let everyone have a voice,” said coordinator Kisia Kimmons. “It’s not a program format, but we have a moderator who presents each Kwanzaa principal, and it’s more or less like a home setting. We have meaningful conversations here, and you walk away educated.”

Kimmons has coordinated the event for the past eight years and believes that the celebration is an essential tool for developing a strong community.

“This celebration brings groups of all ages into a listening atmosphere and allows each to offer wisdom and insight,” said Kimmons. “Many times, the elders present have expressed their concerns about the younger generation, and the youth have been able to express their concerns of, at times, feeling ignored and ostracized by the elders, and then we come up with solutions.”

Each year, performers, artists and speakers from throughout the region are invited to participate. In past years, children have been especially enthused to hear the African fables and music shared by Ajamu Mutima, of Jacksonville Fla.

“Ajamu Mutima is a storyteller by trade, and he has been a regular participant for about five years now. He brings African instruments and recites African fables as told to him by other storytellers and shares some of his own, while playing the stringed-gourd, African drums and flute,” said Kimmons.

This year, members of the Circle of Friends Book Club, Poetic Magic, Sankofa Bath and Body Company and Natural Mystic Arts will share in the nightly presentations and discussions. Kimmons hopes that as the yearly event brings people and businesses together, it will continue to serve as a venue for networking, awareness and idea development.

“The Kwanzaa principals, Ujima (collective work and responsibility) and Ujamaa (cooperative economics,) promote the collective development of our community. I’ve seen people began to share knowledge of grants that are available, of jobs, of new businesses opening in the community,” said Kimmons. ”It’s an opportunity for exposure and we want to see businesses networking, and we want to allow future business owners a chance to survey the community, and see what they need and want.”

While the Kwanzaa celebration encompasses principals to build the entire family, youth are especially encouraged to attend, to gain a stronger foundation in heritage.

“One thing I love about Kwanzaa is that it makes you want to go home and check your own family’s history,” Kimmons said. “It makes you want to buy literature and encyclopedias for your children. It makes you more aware of supporting black business. And it makes you less judgmental of each other as a people, and more understanding.“

Although Kwanzaa honors African and African American heritage, the unifying principals which are practiced during the celebration are extended to people of all races and cultures.

“We encourage anyone to learn the principals and to exercise them within their everyday lives. This is not based on your religion, denomination, or race — it’s based on being kind to mankind,” said Kimmons.

The Southside Library, 527 Griffin Ave., will host Kwanzaa Celebrations, today, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Celebrations will continue Saturday and Sunday from 6:30-8 p.m. and will conclude Monday, with a Karamu (African Feast,) free for attendants. For information, call Kisia Kimmons at 229-269-6856.