BLACK HISTORY MONTH : Puppets, dancers, musicians and storytellers will celebrate African heritage.

When puppet master Gary Jones takes the stage, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Fats Waller and other figures from black history rise to life.

This weekend these musical legends of the Harlem Renaissance and contemporary puppet personalities from Jones’ Blackstreet U.S.A. Puppet Theatre will join dancers, musicians, storytellers and artists at Hawthorne Plaza to launch a monthlong celebration of African and African-American history.

The program, called “A Celebration of Africa,” features performances and activities for children and their parents and highlights art, folk tales, fashion, music and dance from West Africa, Brazil, Cuba and the United States.

Senegalese master dancer Malang Bayo and the Sona Sane West African Dance Co. will start the festivities this weekend with performances of tribal songs and dances from Senegal, Guinea and Mali on Saturday at noon and 1:15 p.m.

At 2 p.m., Jones’ 15 energetic puppets will burst into song, modern dance and ballet “all in an effort to remind people that there is a (black) history and it is continuing,” Jones said.

One character certain to grace the Blackstreet U.S.A. stage will be Judith, a dancing puppet based on Judith Jamison of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. The comic Arthur, who at 19 is one of Jones’ oldest puppets, will tickle young audience members with a number from the musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” called “Your Feets Too Big.”

Following the puppets at 3 p.m., the Ebony Jazzette Dance Company, a children’s troupe, will contribute the contemporary flavor of hip-hop, modern and jazz dance to the program.

On Sunday, Brazilian culture will be spotlighted through the rhythmic performance of the Ayana Dancers and Drummers at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

A marketplace of African crafts and an exhibit of artifacts, including hand-carved sculptures, tribal masks, pottery, paintings, fabrics and instruments from throughout Africa, will be displayed beginning Feb. 11.

On Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., photographer Christopher Parker will display part of his “Giants of Jazz” series, capturing jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and others in action.

Hawthorne Plaza is located at the intersection of Hawthorne and El Segundo boulevards in Hawthorne. All performances are free. Mall hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For a schedule of performances call (310) 676-MALL or for Spanish-language information call (310) 676-INFO.

Among other events celebrating Black History Month in the South Bay:

* Lula Washington’s Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Theatre will perform a “dance dialogue” Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. in St. Robert’s Auditorium at Loyola Marymount University. Created in the wake of last April’s riots, the work “Check This Out!” conveys the dancers’ own feelings and experiences during the riots. Audience members will be able to respond to the performance in a discussion with Washington after the show.

General admission is $5; tickets for seniors, students with ID and Dance Resource Center members are $3. For information call (310) 338-5160 or (310) 338-7619.

* Africare’s Constituency for Africa and Loyola Marymount University will sponsor a conference featuring speakers from international organizations to discuss conditions in Africa and to encourage the empowerment of the African people on Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Seaver Hall, Room 100. Representatives from the Organization for African Unity, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the African American Institute and other groups will participate.

The event is free; for information call (310) 338-7373. Loyola Marymount University is at Loyola Boulevard at West 80th Street.

* The City of Carson presents its Black History Celebration sponsored by the Carson Black Heritage Assn. on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the University Theatre of Cal State Dominguez Hills. Pastor John D. Brewster of First Christian Faith United Church and activist Mary O’Neal will be honored for outstanding community service with a tribute that will include music from five local choirs. The event is free. Cal State Dominguez Hills is at 1000 E. Victoria St. For information call (213) 774-3951.