Harambee? Has Anyone Ever Heard or Celebrated
 

Today I was teaching my classes about "independent and subordinate clauses" and on one of the handouts, it used the African-American holiday of HARAMBEE which means UNITY in Swahili. What is so interesting to me is that I thought Harambee was just a word said during Kwanzaa.

Here is what I learned from the worksheet:

• Celebrated on October 31
• Originated among Black people in Dallas, Texas
• At a Harambee party, families and friends gather to celebrate Black culture
• Play music, sing, dance, discuss artwork

So for those opposed to Halloween, here is the perfect alternative that is more positive and cultural in mind.

Thanks for the info
 

You learn something new everyday. I too thought it was just a word used as a greeting or a part of a call and response.

From a Dallasite...
 

The Harambee festival is a big thing back home. My mother volunteers to work the festival every year. Celebrities come (i.e, Kelly Price and IMX). They showcase local talent. Vendors set up shop. It's really a nice affair.

I subscribed yesterday to the Dallas newspaper via the online avenue HOWEVER I could not copy and paste an article here for you all to read. It appears that it began in 1974 but from what I can tell, it is a Dallas thing. . . well it is time to make this a more universal holiday.

We have a Harambee celebration every year at Louisiana State University. This year it was Sept. 12th. We always end it off with the greek stepshow.



Swahili for "coming together," Harambeé is an evening extravaganza that celebrates African American student life and fosters connections among African American students. This hallmark event, which occurs every fall semester, provides African American students a chance to become acquainted with culturally relevant opportunities on campus and encourages cross-cultural dialogues about the exciting aspects of Black student life within the larger LSU community.

Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the LSU Union Program Council Black Culture Committee, and the LSU African American Cultural Center, Harambeé has been celebrated at LSU since the early 1990's. It has grown to include a host of festivities. Harambeé features an organizational fair highlighting culturally specific organizations and supportive student services that encourage new and returning students to become more involved at LSU. In addition to the fair, students are given a Harambeé Resource Book, which offers a brief description of these organizations and services. A faculty and staff reception, hosted by the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus, allows students the opportunity to meet supportive African American faculty and staff on campus.

Harambeé also includes a recognized keynote speaker who offers encouraging words and an informative message to initiate a positive start for the fall semester. The Alexander Pierre Tureaud Chapter of the LSU Alumni Association awards a deserving student with a scholarship that is based on academic and social excellence. The wealth of LSU student talent is displayed by powerful musical selections performed by the LSU Gospel Choir, a meaningful routine performed by the MLK Dance Ensemble, and a dynamic oratorical presentation by the NAACP. The finale of Harambeé is the Greek Show where African American fraternities and sororitities are able to showcase their outstanding "steppin" abilities.

In Fort Wayne there is a very small street festival.
It gets bigger every year. There is a stage for musicians and dancers to perform. My favorite part are tha art vendors. There was a lady at the one last year who does quilting with african americans on them. She had ballerinas, ice skaters.. anything you could think of. She could make anything you wanted (bags, purses,etc) The Quilts went for a lot of money.

This brings back memories of my college years.The city often held Harambee Festivals when I was in school in Tallahassee,Fl. They were held @ the civic center and the dance troop I was in Florida A & M's Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre used to perform in this festival. After the performance we would shop @ the vendors booths,watch other performances and try different foods they had for sale. It was alot of fun.

Happy Harambee to you!!