Positive Cases Among Kern Residents: 307,235
Deaths: 2,609
Recovered and Presumed Recovered Residents: 298,307
Percentage of all cases that are unvaccinated:Â 71.34
Percentage of all hospitalizations that are unvaccinated:Â 83.15
Updated: 2/2/23
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PHOTO GALLERY: Kwanzaa gathering celebrates African cultural principles in southeast Bakersfield
Southeast Bakersfield’s annual Kwanzaa celebration returned Thursday to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center with dancing, drumming, storytelling and other cultural activities recognizing African cultural principles.
Free and open to all, the colorful and lively event was put on by Sankofa Collective and other local organizations to mark a holiday that runs each year from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.
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Bernard "Yiriba" Thomas with the Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company smiles during a performance at Thursday afternoon's Kwanzaa celebration in east Bakersfield.
Dancers from the Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company, from left, Aminisha Cunningham, Najah Mitchell and Nelisha Mitchell, perform a lively dance to a drum beat during Thursday afternoon's Kwanzaa celebration in southeast Bakersfield.
Community members, some dressed in cultural garb, enjoy the culutural performances in celebration of Kwanzaa at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on Thursday afternoon.
Najah Mitchell, a dancer with Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company, shows emotion as she performs at Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in east Bakersfield. Kwanzaa, which is celebrated each year from December 26th through January 1st, is a cultural celebration that primarily serves as a way for African Americans to collectively express African heritage and cultural origin.
Children are giddy as they stand in a line for Eyo, the stilt walker, to pass over their heads during Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in southeast Bakersfield.
A lively crowd cheers for performers at Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration in southeast Bakersfield.
The seven candles, or mishumaa saba, representing the Seven Principles, burn during the Kwanzaa celebration at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on Thursday afternoon.
Community members, some dressed in colorful cultural attire, enjoy the cultural performances celebrating Kwanzaa at a community event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on Thursday afternoon. The event, which was free and open to all, aimed to celebrate family, community and culture through activities such as storytelling, dancing, singing and candlelight.
Dancers from the Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company, from left, Aminisha Cunningham, Najah Mitchell and Nelisha Mitchell, perform a lively dance to a drum beat during Thursday afternoon's Kwanzaa celebration in southeast Bakersfield.
Attendees in the audience at Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration watch as dancers from Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company perform a cultural dance accompanied by drums and singing.
Drummers with Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company sing as they pound their drums during a performance Thursday at Bakersfield's Kwanzaa celebration at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Kwanzaa, celebrated in the United States each year from Dec. 26th through Jan. 1, is a cultural celebration that primarily serves as a way for African Americans to collectively express African heritage and cultural origin.
Aminisha Cunningham dances energetically during a cultural performance by Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company at Thursday afternoon's Kwanzaa celebration in southeast Bakersfield.
Children attending Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration follow along as dancers from Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company teach them a cultural dance to perform in front of the crowd.
Children attending Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration follow along as dancers from Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company teach a cultural dance to perform in front of the crowd.
Najah Mitchell, a dancer with Teye Sa Thiosanne Drum and Dance Company, teaches children a cultural dance during Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in southeast Bakersfield. Kwanzaa, celebrated each year from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, is a cultural celebration that primarily serves as a way for African Americans to collectively express African heritage and cultural origin.
Eyo, the stilt walker, passes over a line of children at Thursday's Kwanzaa event to spread a blessing for the new year.
A vendor speaks to a customer at the Kwanzaa celebration in southeast Bakersfield on Thursday afternoon.
Attendees of Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration in southeast Bakersfield cheer at the conclusion of a cultural performance. The event, put on by the Sankofa Collective and other local organizations, aimed to celebrate family, community and culture.
Lynell Moore takes the crowd on a journey as she recites an African folktale that taught not to be selfish. The Kwanzaa celebration, held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on South Owens Street, was filled with West African cultural items in celebration of the African American holiday that seeks to connect black Americans to African heritage.
Bakari Sanyu, an organizer for Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration and the principal officer of the Sankofa Collective, speaks to the crowd to give some background for the holiday of Kwanzaa, which is celebrated in the United States each year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Vendors lined the edges of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center for Thursday's Kwanzaa celebration.
Community volunteers stand together after performing the Kwanzaa candle lighting ceremony at Thursday afternoon's Kwanzaa celebration at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on South Owens Street.
