A week-long celebration honoring African heritage in African-American culture begins the day after Christmas and runs through New Year’s Day. Kwanzaa was first established in California in 1966 as a positive response in the aftermath of the Watts Riots and derives from a Swahili phrase that means, “First Fruits of the Harvest.”

The California State Capitol Kwanzaa Celebration is at noon Saturday, Dec. 29 and is open to the public. Capitol Kwanzaa Coordinator Michael Harris and Green the Church Rev. Ambrose Carroll explain the history and significance of Kwanzaa and what you can expect at the 20th anniversary celebration.