Celebration: Kwanzaa

Ujima: Collective Work and Responsibility
Sunday, 12/28/2025
2:00 - 4:30
Koret Auditorium
Koret Lobby
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room A
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room B
Main Library

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

415-557-4400

Celebrate the third day of Kwanzaa (Ujima, Collective Work and Responsibility) at the library for its 20th annual Kwanzaa festivities. To kick off this special event, musician and storyteller Azere Wilson will perform with Nigerian born percussionist Manas Itene some original and classic African American tunes curated based on the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Following the performance a feast will be served.  A fun, educational, and entertaining afternoon for the whole family. 

Kwanzaa happens every year from December 26 through January 1. The holiday's rituals celebrate African cultural traditions, highlighting the "seven principles of African heritage." The principle for the 3rd day, Ujima, means to build and maintain our community together, making our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and solving them together.

Azere Wilson is a bluesy, roots Americana musician and storyteller from the California hill country. Old-time blues, Americana, and Folk music are her volumes of truth. Her elders are Nina Simone, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, and traditional Black music and bluegrass. Azere breathes new life into old music from the early 1900s and melds her originals with a jazzy, folk blues vibe. 

Manas Itene is a world renowned Nigerian born percussionist and local whose played with Michael Franti and Spearhead since 2001, and before that he played with Inka Inka, the Mandators, and many others. 

Connect: Azere Wilson - website | Azere Wilson - Instagram

Connect: Manas Itene - website | Manas Itene - Facebook

 

 

Dance & Music

Enjoy performances, talks and workshops that celebrate movement and the musical arts.

More Than a Month: Black Interest

Connect to engaging discussions and performances related to the Black community.

More Than a Month recognizes important events in Black history, honors community and national leaders and fosters steps towards collective change. Programming features authors, poets and craft classes. 

This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.

Public Notice and Disclaimer

This program uses a third-party website link. By clicking on the third-party website link, you will leave SFPL's website and enter a website not operated by SFPL. This service may collect personally identifying information about you, such as name, username, email address, and password. This service will treat the information it collects about you pursuant to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services. For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of SFPL’s Privacy Policy describing Links to Other Sites.

The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.