Atlanta celebrates Kwanzaa with week of festivities [Video]

EAST POINT, Ga. — The rhythmic beat of drums filled the Arts Xchange on Tuesday as metro Atlanta kicked off its Kwanzaa celebrations. The weeklong event honors Black history, culture, and the seven principles of Kwanzaa, with a special emphasis on unity, faith, and renewal as the community prepares to welcome the new year.

Kenneth Zakee, a key organizer who has spearheaded Atlanta’s Kwanzaa events for nearly four decades, says the holiday is more than just a celebration.

“Kwanzaa is a set of rituals that bring us together,” Zakee said. “It cements us as a people and helps us celebrate our collective reward and effort—the harvest of our shared work.”

This year, Zakee has themed the celebrations with the mantra “Forward Ever, Backward Never,” emphasizing the need to move past obstacles and embrace growth.

“We don’t need to look back on things that don’t serve us,” Zakee explained. “It’s about …