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Please join us for this annual event in 2026.
Sunday, November 30, 2025
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Early-Bird tickets available beginning in January, 2026.
Free admittance for children ages 5 and under.
This is more than an event — it’s a fellowship of hearts and minds.
Join us for Umoja Karamu at Serengeti Gallery — a soulful afternoon celebrating community, culture, and connection.
Come together with kindred spirits who value art, heritage, and meaningful conversation.
Enjoy a delicious spread of food, stirring readings and the vibrant beauty of African American art that speaks to our shared history and hope.
Welcome to a space to uplift one another and celebrate unity through creativity and culture. Bring your energy, your stories, and your appetite for connection.
YES, WE DRESS TO EXPRESS!
Quirky or cool, put on your culture. Be uniquely you and make a statement with African-centered attire.
Block The Date On Your Annual Calendar: Since 1971, Umoja Karamu is celebrated on the last Sunday of November. Attend our feast or host your very own with the help of our free resources.
HOW TO UMOJA KARAMU
A journey through five chapters of African American history,
each one represented by a color that tells its own story.
Umoja Karamu unfolds like a sacred rhythm. It begins with a prayer, followed by a libation, where a liquid is gently poured to honor the ancestors who came before.
The celebration was created in 1971 by Dr. Edward Sims, Jr., who envisioned a holiday that would bring Black families together to honor their shared history and heritage. Every year on the last Sunday of November, we gather to celebrate Umoja Karamu, a name that means “unity feast” in Swahili.
Umoja Karamu centers on food, family, and gratitude — but its deeper purpose is to strengthen unity, pride, and love within the Black community.
BLACK
WHITE
RED
The color black symbolizes African families living in harmony before the time of slavery.
White, represents the scattering and suffering of families during the long years of enslavement.
Red follows, marking the triumph of emancipation and the moment of liberation.
GREEN
GOLD
Green symbolizes struggle and growth, reflecting the fight for civil rights and equality.
The ceremony closes with gold or orange, colors of hope, looking ahead to a brighter future for generations to come.
The heart of the observance is period presentations — when stories, music, and symbolic foods bring each historical era to life.
In larger community gatherings, the ceremony expands in spirit. A special place is set at the table for the ancestors, and afterward, their portion of food and drink is returned to nature.
Everyone shares in the feast, enjoying dishes that reflect the five meaningful colors.
Throughout the celebration, stories are told, music fills the air, and each color on the table becomes a symbol of survival, progress, and hope. Today, Umoja Karamu is celebrated each year and its message of unity continues to spread — one feast, one story, and one gathering at a time.
Elders close the celebration by offering wise words and encouragement, reminding everyone of their strength and resilience. Any leftover food is given to those in need, carrying the spirit of unity beyond the table.