Alkebu-lan Village began the task of building the world’s largest Kinara in December 2022. Detroit City Councilmember Scott Benson was moved from attending a Kwanzaa Celebration at Alkebu-lan Village. He was inspired to explore why Detroit does not have a Motor City Kwanzaa Kinara. Detroit’s Downtown Partnership hosts a Christmas Tree and Menorah annually for Detroit. Kwanzaa is one of the few celebrations for Black people in America. The celebration honors the seven principles of life to build family and community. The Kinara is the candle holder honoring the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
Councilmember Benson contacted Marvis Coefield to challenge and task Alkebu-lan Village to build the Motor City Kwanzaa Kinara. This is the Story of how Greg McKenzie and others came together and made this happen.