Kwanzaa celebrations face challenges in N.B. with limited access to decorations and supplies

Kwanzaa decorations in New Brunswick have to make a long journey to get to the province. 

They're usually flown in from Ottawa or Halifax, where there are more African stores.

"Community members travelling can be able to bring those things … we know the importance because of how hard it is to actually purchase these things or to even find them," said Yusuf Shire, president of the New Brunswick African Association.

The celebration of Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday. It's a time for people of African heritage to celebrate their culture and its history. 

The celebration began in 1966 in the United States, while Canada began to celebrate it in 1993. The word Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means "first fruits."

Kwanzaa lasts seven days, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

People often decorate their homes with candles or in the colours of the Pan-African flag: red, green and black.

The New Brunswick African Association never throws any decorations away. The oldest piece in their inventory is a mask that a family brought from Kenya that's been passed down five generations. 

Whether it's candles, flags or masks, Shire keeps it all. 

"We keep them not only because we have to. But also to pass our culture down to our younger generations."

He also hopes to pass along the meaning of Kwanzaa, through a discussion at the multicultural centre on Dec. 28. 

"This is usually the time for reflection. We want to be able to, actually as a community, look deeper. What can the elders in the community pass down to the next generation to prepare the young generation for?"

When it comes to celebrating, however, new decorations and supplies are hard to come by in New Brunswick, Shire said. 

"There's no place really where you can be able to find it. When I want to be able to decorate for Halloween or Christmas, I can just go to Walmart. For Kwanzaa, it's not that simple." 

While it doesn't sell any Kwanzaa-specific decorations, Divine African Market in Fredericton has been providing food, like jollof rice and cassava flour, for the African diaspora.

When the owner of the store, Bolaji Akintola, immigrated to New Brunswick from Nigeria in 2018, she felt that traditional foods were nowhere to be found.

"[Fredericton] didn't have it … and I was missing my food and missing home." 

She said her customers don't just include immigrants, but also local folks looking to add more flavours and ingredients to their cooking.

"I like to talk about my food and its traditions."

Shire hopes more people like Akintola take on the task and help educate people about African culture. 

"It's all about celebrating different cultures and celebrating our differences. I know it is Christmas, but if you get an opportunity, you should be able to learn anything about the rich heritage of Africa."