Wednesday, December 8. 8:00pm

University of Maryland African Drum Ensemble & University of Maryland Balinese Gamelan Ensemble. Amadou Kouyate & I Nyoman Suadin, directors. Dekelboum Concert Hall, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-1625 • 301-405-ARTS (2787). A night of dynamic percussion with student ensembles and guest artists featuring the West African djembe drum, 21-stringed kora, glittering metallaphone instruments, gongs, drums, and dance. Presented by Graduate Studies in Ethnomusicology, Division of Musicology & Ethnomusicology.

Thursday, December 9. 7:30 p.m.
Ancient Marks. National Geographic, 1145 17th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. From ancient Egypt to the islands of Polynesia to the shopping malls of modern America, tattooing, piercing, and other forms of body modification have been prevalent throughout the world during every stage of human development. Chris Rainier, an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in Time, Life, Outside, and New Yorker, is a contributing editor for National Geographic Traveler who spent seven years visiting more than 30 countries documenting the practice of body marking for his new book, Ancient Marks (Media 27). Rainier will share striking images from his project and discuss the modern resurgence of the practice of body marking—particularly in indigenous cultures, where it represents a re-establishment of identity and pride. A demonstration of mehndi, a traditional form of decorating the body with henna, will take place at this presentation.

December 11. 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

African Gift Show--Hand Made Crafts From Africa. The Capital Hilton Hotel, 1001 16th Street, NW (at K Street), Washington, DC 20036. Original art from Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Batiks, carvings, masks, beadwork, malachite. West and South African traditional attire. Ethiopian coffee beans. Gemstones and more. Free admission. African Chamber of Commerce. Contact: 301/651-9309, 202/468-8328.

Sunday, December 19. 4:00PM

Kwanza Celebration with Coyaba Dance Theater. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE, Washington, DC. Celebrate Kwanza with a holiday concert by Coyaba Dance Theater, featuring the students of Dance Place's adult and children's African dance classes, storytelling, and more. This performance is a part of the Family Series: Free for one child 12 & under with a paying adult! To reserve your free child's ticket please call 202-269-1600. Ticket Prices: $18 general admission, $14 students, seniors, members, teachers (prek-12) and artists, $6 children and teens (17 & under)

December 28 - 29. 8PM

The Spirit of Kwanzaa. Concert Hall, Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center brings the annual favorite The Spirit of Kwanzaa back to the Concert Hall on December 28 and 29. Dance Institute of Washington's Fabian Barnes and dancers from his Washington Reflections Dance Company present a "shake-the-rafters, rattle-the-floorboards, unabashedly uplifting" (The Washington Post) pageant of dance, poetry, and song in honor of the African American holiday, now in its 38th year. The seven principles of Kwanzaa come alive with a lively lineup of special guest artists. Tickets: $12.50 - $18.00