50th anniversary of Kwanzaa celebration held Monday

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Kwanzaa aims to preserve African culture and bring unity, and Wilmington’s 50th Kwanzaa Celebration was Monday evening.

This year’s theme is “Moving Forward as a People” and it was held at St. Stephen’s AME Church in Wilmington.

Josiah Bennetone says he’s been celebrating the holiday since he was little and says it’s important to keep the traditions going for future generations.

“We definitely everybody come out,” Bennetone said.” It’s not just an African American holiday, it’s for all people. I mean you don’t have be Irish to wear green on St. Patrick’s day so we encourage everybody to attend.”

There were several speakers during the event and even a drawing.

Kwanzaa is celebrated through January 1.