ST. JOHN — A crowd dressed in colorful African wear, much of which was pink and green, gathered at Franklin Powell Park recently to celebrate the first day of Kwanzaa on St. John.
Hosted by the Sigma Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the annual community event aimed to celebrate the first principle of the holiday, Umojia, or unity.
“For over 20 years this annual event has been a testament to the chapter’s deep commitment to uplifting and cherishing this community,” Deyzha Todman, president of the St. Thomas-St. John chapter, said during the Dec. 26 event. “There is a strength, resilience and spirit of the St. John community.”
The event opened with a libation to honor the ancestors, led by Felicia Blake, with her brother Akimyemi Blake and his wife, Mariel Blake.
Attendees also participated by calling out their ancestors’ names and they were invited to drink a cup filled with grape juice.
The program included information on the history and symbolism behind the seven-day holiday that celebrates African culture and its values.
There were performances by St. Thomas Majorettes, Love City Pan Dragons and The Echo People, who enlivened the crowd with their drumming.
While marking the start of Kwanzaa, the event also honored Quelbe Resurrection Band of St. John for their dedication to preserving cultural heritage through music.
Theodora Moorehead said that around three years ago she and Carl Powell noticed that St. John was losing its culture, and they decided to form a band that focused on quelbe, the official music of the Virgin Islands.
Each member of the 10-piece ensemble received a certificate from the sorority to honor their work.
