Motor City Kwanzaa celebrates second year lighting world’s largest kinara

Detroit — Hundreds of joyful residents gathered Tuesday to reflect on ancestral history and celebrate the first of seven days of Kwanzaa and the lighting of the world's largest Kinara in the heart of downtown Detroit.

Although many in Detroit have celebrated Kwanzaa for decades, the city's third cultural monument was first introduced in Campus Martius last year alongside the Christmas tree and Menorah.

This is the second year a 30-foot-tall Kwanzaa Kinara is displayed and will illuminate one candle each day in honor of the seven-day celebration of African American culture and heritage that will continue through Monday.

“We look forward to the lighting each night during Kwanzaa – and the return of the Kinara in the years to come," said Anthony Zander, director of the city's Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department.

The program began in Cadillac Square in a heated tent with African drummers, dancers and a special tribute, this year, to the late Rev. JoAnn Watson where her friends, colleagues, and peers paid homage by aligning her work to each principle of the Nguzo Saba (the seven principles of Kwanzaa).

“Today is a day of unity,” said Greg McKenzie, an organizer and project manager. “As we light the Umoja candle, we pray for our families, our communities, our nation and for our future.”

Two years ago, Detroit District 3 Councilman Scott Benson initiated building a program to support a seven-day Kwanzaa celebration. It involved custom-making the world’s tallest kinara of its kind.

Benson said he's proud to add the cultural symbol as it embodies the seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

"These principles are shown every day by Detroiters of every walk of life, so it is appropriate that we have the kinara set up in the center of downtown for all to witness and enjoy," Benson said.

The kinara, which faces Hart Plaza, breaks down into 23 pieces for ease of assembly and storage, McKenzie said.

It boasts a fine black granite base topped with a hardwood candle holders displaying the word "KWANZAA" hand-carved in wood along with other cultural symbols.

Seven red, black and green candles fashioned from utility poles are topped with light fixtures made to resemble glowing flames.

The durable framed wall structure is counterweighted by two tons of metal plates to ensure the sculpture can withstand high winds that blow through Campus Martius.

First celebrated in 1966, Kwanzaa was founded in California by activist Dr. Maulana Karenga based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West and Southeast Africa. During the week, a new candle is lit on the kinara each day of the Pan-African holiday.

Through Monday, the community can gather at dusk to witness the illumination of each candle, representing a Kwanzaa principle.

"We built this! The design and construction of the Motor City Kwanzaa Kinara is an endeavor that represents a spirit of collaboration that is not foreign to us — as this spirit was passed down to us from our ancestors," said Marvis Cofield, CEO and founder of Alkebu-lan Village, which provides educational, cultural and recreational programs to 1,000 Detroit youth and their families. "Everything we need to dream, design, construct and maintain the kinara is already present in our community — after all, we built the pyramids, so why not a kinara?"

Cofield narrated a story while his black-belt students performed a martial arts routine. Drum and dance troop Nanou-Djiapo filled the tent with life and energy that moved many to get up, dance, throw money and cheer.

Peers of Rev. Watson dedicated this year's event in her honor saying Kwanzaa is a time of healing in the community from slavery, systemic racism and breathes cultural life, which is what Watson dedicated her life’s work to. Some called for the implementation of Watson’s 20-point reparations plan, as she previously served on Detroit’s Reparation Task Force and echoed her calls for residents to be reimbursed for overtaxed homes in the city that led to 1,000 foreclosures. Watson served 10 years on Detroit City Council until 2013.

King Solomon Baptist Church also is hosting Kwanzaa celebrations each night for the next week.

Detroiter Antonio Rafael said he embraces the event and was happy to see it downtown although he wished it was closer to the Kinara and not in a tent beside the Cadillac Lodge.

“I’m happy overall. Roads are closed which is a big deal down here but it’s limiting to have a lighting in an area that’s already congested, which is a great thing too. Where else do you see a huge tree, menorah and kinara all displayed in unison?” said Rafael, 35, who works with Black to the Land, a nonprofit that connects Detroiters to activities outdoors.

“We’re in a time when there’s mass privatization in Detroit," Rafael added. "Especially post-emergency management and private investment in Campus Martius, it’s good to see we’re organizing towards creating public space prioritizing residents and not drivers during this time of year.”

The Motor City Kwanzaa Kinara is supported in part by the Downtown Detroit Partnership, the Detroit Pistons, McDonald’s, the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, the Knight Foundation and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

srahal@detroitnews.com