DUNBAR HERITAGE ASSOCIATION
An African Heritage celebration filled the San Marcos Public Library with the sounds of drumming and other traditional music as the Dunbar Heritage Association hosted their third annual Kwanzaa celebration last weekend. Kwanzaa celebrations are centered around its seven principles: Umoja — unity, Kujichagulia — Self-Determination, Ujima — Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa — Cooperative Economics, Nia — Purpose, Kuumba — Creativity and Imani — Faith, according to the DHA website.
The sounds of drums filled the air as Kelley Glover, Ph.D., demonstrated each instrument used traditionally in an African drum circle. She explained the historical context of each instrument and demonstrated how to play them, conducting the crowd into rhythmic improvised harmonies. From toddlers to seniors, there was no age limit to participate in the melodic drumming. Cheers roared after every successful drumming session. The music flowed almost methodically, but there had been no prior practice other than Glover’s introduction to each instrument. The applause from the musical merriment transitioned into gratitude for the DHA founders and volunteers who threw the Kwanzaa event. The closing remarks were filled with thank yous and appreciation for not only the organizers but all the attendees, educators and musicians who made the celebration a success.
The event was full of entertaining and educational experiences focused on sharing the history and traditions of Kwanzaa. DHA Secretary and Board Member Jonafa Banbury recapped the event, saying that “over 40 people of different ethnic backgrounds came” to participate in “interactive drum circles, music from the African diaspora, Afro-Brazilian pop music and music education.” There was also a feast called the Karamu, which “is also a part of the Kwanzaa tradition and celebration which is usually on the last night.”
“[DHA] blended everything that Kwanzaa is about into one celebration to teach people about how to celebrate it on their own and to have a community space where we could do it together,” she said.
This was the DHA’s third year hosting the celebration, and all three years they have had the Kinara on the Historic Hays County Courthouse grounds, which Banbury said was “built from scratch.”
“My husband designed it and some of the guys in DHA actually got together, built it, painted it and [they] touch it up every year and take it down to the courthouse,” Banbury proudly exclaimed. “Everyone can enjoy it.”
Kwanzaa is celebrated Dec. 26 to January 1. There is more information about Kwanzaa and the seven principles, which are celebrated each of the seven days of the holiday week at the DHA website, dhasmtx.com. In January the DHA is hosting their 23rd annual MLK celebration. The DHA is the official host of the Martin Luther King Day celebrations in San Marcos. There will be an educational MLK kids event on Jan. 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. hosted at the San Marcos Public Library. The event, which is for children from ages 3 to 18, is free, but registration is required. Register at the DHA website under the MLK 2025 drop down menu. On Jan. 20, the grand MLK celebrations begin, starting with the wreath laying at the LBJ/MLK Crossroads Memorial at 9:30 a.m. If you want to participate in the ceremony there is a registration form on the DHA website. Space is limited so sign up before the Jan. 11 deadline. Immediately after the ceremony, there will be a silent walk through the Historic Dunbar neighborhood to the Historic Hays County Courthouse for a brief program and the keynote address. This event is free and open to the public, but there is a sign up form on the DHA website to help manage and organize the crowd. The DHA has seen amazing growth in the MLK walk, starting from 200 participants to over 500 in the last few years. The 2025 keynote speaker is Ralph Merriweather who is a union man with IBEW. The walk’s theme this year is Labor, Jobs and Freedom. Banbury explained that “the 1963 march on Washington was about jobs and freedom, so our keynote speaker is going to discuss the contributions African Americans have made concerning labor in the United States”. There will be a reception following the speech at the Dunbar Recreation Center at 801 MLK Dr.
