The mission of Kenté Cultural Center is to promote the contributions and importance of African-American culture and history to society as a whole. Our strategy is to provide programs and activities for people of all ages, with a special emphasis for young people ages 8-15 years old.
Using culture and the arts as a tool, Kenté strives to illustrate how perseverance and imagination can help unlock the doors of oppression and hopelessness. We aim to create a place where young people are encouraged to define themselves on their own terms, utilizing the arts as a means of self-expression. Kenté Cultural Center's intent is to build a strong allegiance to our community by establishing a haven where young minds can grow and be nourished toward a positive expression of self.
December 26: Kwanzaa, Day 1
Umoja (Unity) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
December 27: Kwanzaa, Day 2
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
December 28: Kwanzaa, Day 3
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
December 29: Kwanzaa, Day 4
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
December 30: Kwanzaa, Day 5
Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
December 31: Kwanzaa, Day 6
Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful than we inherited it.
January 1: Kwanzaa, Day 7
Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Kenté Cultural Center
219 Bank Street
New London CT 06320