Kwanzaa Events Brighten Southland : Holidays: Candle lightings mark opening of the weeklong festival. About 15 million African Americans nationwide are expected to join celebrations.

More than a dozen residents at a Downtown homeless community were among many African Americans throughout the area on Sunday who ushered in the first day of Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration of African culture marked by lighting of candles.

Kwanzaa, observed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, is intended to bring together African Americans of all faiths through festivals, events and observances of seven Kwanzaa principles, which stress familial bond and racial harmony.

A different principle is emphasized on each of the seven days with the lighting of candles representing virtues such as unity, faith, creativity and self-determination. The holiday culminates in a karamu, or feast.

It is estimated that 15 million African Americans in the United States observe Kwanzaa, which is based on the traditional African harvest celebration. The holiday was created in 1966 by Maulana (Ron) Karenga, chairman of black studies at Cal State Long Beach, and incorporates various aspects of African culture in a common holiday.

One group, the Kwanzaa Parade Fest, celebrated Sunday with a ceremony at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza and plans a New Year’s Day Kwanzaa parade.

This year, another Los Angeles group, Kwanzaa People of Color, chose to hold its 17th annual ceremony at Genesis I, the “dome village” of homeless people near Downtown.

“We sought to celebrate people and acknowledge their commitments to our community and to rebuilding people’s lives,” said Akile, chairman and founder of Kwanzaa People of Color. “That is what Ted Hayes (founder of Genesis I) is doing here at this village.”

For most of the residents living in the bubble-like homes, Sunday was the first time they had witnessed a Kwanzaa ceremony.

“It’s an eye-opener,” said resident Ila Ducck Prewitt, 43. “This is just another piece of black history coming back to me.”

Genesis residents also applauded the crowning of the Oba (king) and Iyaba (queen), who are selected to reinforce positive role models and encourage others, Akile said.

They will preside over the Kwanzaa parade.