Kwanzaa is a secular holiday that was founded in 1966, when Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, wanted to come up with a way to bring the African American and pan-African communities together.

Today, the tradition rooted in various "first fruit" harvest celebrations of cultures across Africa — including the Zulu and Ashanti peoples — is celebrated from Dec. 26-Jan. 1, culminating in the Karamu feast.

Here are some Kwanzaa events to enjoy around Portland.

Kwanzaa Community Fundraiser and Drag Show | Wed., Dec. 27 | 6-11:30 p.m. | CC Slaughters Nightclub and Lounge, 219 NW Davis St, Portland | $0-$10 | Celebrate the principle of self-determination (kujichagulia) with a night of empowering entertainment, with proceeds benefiting Brown Hope's Black Resilience Fund.