The Philadelphia Museum of Art will host a celebration of Kwanzaa with Keepers of the Culture, Philadelphia's Afrocentric storytelling group, during their Fourth Annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Saturday, December 28. The event will begin at 12:00 p.m. with six workshops exploring the storytelling tradition, and culminate in a Storytelling Performance, beginning at 3:00 p.m., based on the nguzo saba, The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. Participants in the workshops will explore a variety of themes, including movement and body language, the story as an educational tool, and the preservation of family history. There will also be a hands-on lesson on Kwanzaa crafts, and participants will be able to take home their creations. Come with energy, curiosity, and your kuumba--creativity. Keepers of the Culture's workshops, like the performance to follow, offer something for individuals of every age and background.

The Storytelling Performance will follow the workshops at 3:00 p.m., and will be held in the Van Pelt Auditorium. The high-energy performance will feature eight members of Keepers of the Culture, African drums, dance, and, of course, stories.

Keepers of the Culture view the storytelling tradition as a means to educate and nurture, and to foster pride and understanding. Traditional African storytellers, "griots," served as historians within their communities. They were responsible for passing on customs, values and an understanding of the past to future generations. Today, Keepers of the Culture preserve this oral tradition.

The Kwanzaa Celebration at the Philadelphia Museum of Art is free after Museum admission. Museum admission is $7 for adults, $4 for children under 18, students with valid ID, and senior citizens. Free Sundays until 1 p.m. Members free at all times. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday evenings until 8:45 p.m. Closed on Mondays and major holidays.