NORMAL - A group of sorority sisters hope their annual event will become a local tradition that builds on the 41-year history of Kwanzaa - a seven-day holiday created to help reunite Africans and their descendents scattered around the world.

The local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta invites the public to come Saturday afternoon to learn, celebrate and socialize during its third annual community Kwanzaa celebration.

"It started back in the civil rights era - it really was created to help African-Americans get reacquainted with the African culture," said Monica Taylor, president of the local Beta Iota Zeta chapter of the sorority. She and about 15 other area women make up the local chapter.

Whoever attends Saturday's event at the Normal Public Library can expect an overview of Kwanzaa's history, a lesson in who generally celebrates it and the meaning behind Kwanzaa's seven principles. Refreshments also will be provided.

First celebrated in 1966, Kwanzaa was created by activist Maulana Karenga, who founded the United Slaves Organization and later led the black studies department at California State University, Long Beach.

Although some people have come to see Kwanzaa as a parallel to Christmas for black Americans, this isn't true, said Taylor.

"It has nothing to do with Christmas or religion. It is about cultural heritage," she said.

On the Official Kwanzaa Web Site, Marenga lists creating a global African community among the African continent's people, those who emigrated from it and descendants of Africans as the basis for Kwanzaa.

He used Swahili, one of the most common languages in Africa, in creating seven principles and seven symbols for Kwanzaa. The Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" roughly translates as "first fruits."

The annual observance is timed to end on Jan. 1 to symbolize renewal, said Taylor.

The symbols used include three colors most closely associated with Africa - black, red and green - and a seven-candle holder called a "kinara."

New this year to the Twin City event this year is a call from Taylor and her sorority for several community organizations to take part.

Participating groups include the McLean County Health Department, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Although Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University each have hosted Kwanzaa-themed events over the years, students are on winter break for the seven-day event - which always begins Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1.

Zeta Phi Beta members decided in 2005 to start their event as a way to allow the community to have a public event during the actual Kwanzaa week, as well as a way to raise awareness about Kwanzaa for people unfamiliar with its traditions, said Taylor.

"About 20 million people celebrate Kwanzaa every year. We wanted our community to be a part of it," said Taylor, who helped start observances as an IWU staff member more than 10 years ago.

For more information on the event call (309) 838-3287.

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Kwanzaa basics

Seven is the key number when learning about Kwanzaa. The holiday's creator, Maulana Karenga, developed a seven-day observance, with seven principles, seven symbols, and seven candles representing each day. Swahili versions of the terms are in parentheses.

The seven principles (nguzo saba) are:

- Unity (Umoja) - in the family, community, nation, and race.

- Self-Determination (Kujichagulia) - Define, name, create and speak for ourselves.

- Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima) - Build and maintain community and solve problems together.

- Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa) - To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

- Purpose (Nia) - Make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

- Creativity (Kuumba) - Always do as much as we can, in the way we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

- Faith (Imani) - To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

SOURCE: www.history.com

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Celebration

What: Third annual Kwanzaa celebration

Who: sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Beta Iota Zeta chapter of Bloomington-Normal

When: 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday

Where: Normal Public Library, 206 W. College Ave., Normal, Community Room A

Contact: Call (309) 838-3287