Brooklyn Children's Museum hosts 17th annual Kwanzaa Celebration

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) – The rhythmic beats of djembe drums and children's laughter filled the air at the Brooklyn Children's Museum in Crown Heights on Thursday, marking the start of the 17th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration. 

New York City's largest family-oriented Kwanzaa celebration brings African cultural heritage to life through various activities and performances.

"It's just great to like learn more about your community, learn more about the people that surround you and love you, and have a time to celebrate black people togetherness." Denise Coke, who brought her two godchildren to experience the festivities, shared her enthusiasm.

The celebration, organized in partnership with the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, includes performances and hands-on workshops. 

These are designed to engage families with the seven principles of Kwanzaa while celebrating African cultural heritage.

Thursday's celebration focused on Umoja, which stands for unity.

Coke's godson Kingston, who turns three next week, was particularly captivated by the djembe drumming workshop. 

"They really loved it. My godson Kingston really is into sound. Um, so having sound sensory was really great for him. Um, and just being interactive, getting them to play with their hands really brought a lot of life out of them," Coke explained.

"Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday. It's a cultural celebration that anyone can take part,” Zakiya Harris, Artistic Director of Asase Yaa School of the Arts, said. “We're exposing them to the different cultures of Africa and African American people. We come together collectively to be able to put on displays of arts and culture, but we also understand that it's our responsibility to bring this knowledge to our community."

Michael Williams, COO of Brooklyn Children's Museum, highlighted the unifying aspect of the event, "Unity is one of the biggest things, and I think you see that embodied here in the museum. I think I love the idea of bringing people together. It's mostly around the idea of celebrating African American culture but I think what you'll notice as you go around the museum is we're celebrating and inviting everyone in to celebrate and be a part of that unity."

As the sounds of drums continue to resonate through the museum, families like Coke's embrace the spirit of Kwanzaa, fostering a sense of community and cultural pride.

 "By having him playing with the drums, it really got him excited and locked in," Coke noted about her godson.

The Brooklyn Children's Museum celebration will continue until December 30th, with activities scheduled throughout the week. 

For more information on Kwanzaa at The Brooklyn Children's Museum, click here.