LAURINBURG —Kuumba means creativity in Swahili.
But the annual Kuumba Festival in Laurinburg also means different things to different people.
For vendor and book seller Fred Williams, the festival is a chance to share black history. To attendee Constance Monroe, the event is an opportunity to share the unique spirit of Scotland County’s diverse community.
But for almost all of those taking part, the festival is way to have a good time.
“It is great to see everybody smiling and everybody happy here at the festival,” said Adrian Gay, owner of A-Rods Kitchen, a first time vendor to the Kuumba fest.
The event, which included dancing, drumming, music and food, celebrated its 26th year of keeping African-American culture alive.
“Everything was well organized, it’s very entertaining and everybody just comes out and gets along and mingles,”said Constance Monroe, who lives in Laurinburg. “It’s not an Afrocentric event … it’s for everybody. We all are out here and we all are socializing and loving each other.”
Vendor Fred Williams said he was at Kuumba to help promote history.
“I try to get people over to the book because that is where the real history is, in reading books,” said Williams, who has a portable African-American history museum. He has been attending the Kuumba Festival for three years.
The festival began in the mid-1980s as a cultural exposition featuring the Chuck Davis Dance Company. In 1990, it was named Kuumba for one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
There were about 3,000 people at Saturday’s festival held at Market Park, according to Daniel Dockery, president of the African-American Heritage Committee, the group sponsoring the festival.
“The festival is going great and we are excited for the individuals who have come out to celebrate with us,” Dockery said.
Kuumba kicked off Friday night with the Miss Kuumba pageant and before resuming for most of the day on Saturday.
Chloe’ Strickland was crowned the 2016 Miss Kuumba queen. She is the daughter of George and Lesley Strickland.The 14-year-old attends Scotland Early College High School.
Denise Lynch was named Kuumba Junior Princess. She is the 12-year-old daughter of Leslie Ann Whittaker. She 12 attends Carver Middle School.
The Kuumba Princess was Ja’Niyah Baker. Ja’Niyah is the daughter of Jeremy and Amanda Baker. She is 7 years old and attends Covington Street School.
Prior to the crowning of the Kuumba Pageant winners, Dockery got a chance to dance with Ayinde Hurrey and his African-American Dance Ensemble.
“It’s a really great festival they have going on out here,” said Micah Sherard, a member of the dance troupe. “And really great food out here — so good I just got done eating some of it.”
With the approximately 40 vendors in attendance, there was plenty of food, exhibits and souvenirs for those in attendance to enjoy.
Saint Johns Holiness Church returned this year to sell turkey legs — something the Church has been doing since the first Kuumba festival.
“It’s a good crowd — everyone seems to be enjoying themselves,” said Wayne Pearson, a Saint Johns member.
Laurinburg Police Chief Darwin Williams said that it was important that he and his officers attend events like the Kuumba Festival.
“This is another way of connecting with the community and this is what you have to do, whether it involves preachers or law enforcement, it doesn’t matter — the community has to come together, we have to educate each other on what we expect from each other and just know we are out there for each other,” Williams said. “Law enforcement should reflect our community and our community should reflect us — it should be a partnership.”
