Music, dance and oratory highlighted the fifth annual Kwanzaa Extravaganza Saturday night in Heritage Hall at the HUB-Robeson Center.

Kwanzaa, a non-religious holiday traditionally celebrated by Africans and African Americans, was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor at California State University. His intent was threefold: to remind celebrants of their African heritage, to help bind them together as a community and to encourage the practice of seven principles, known as the Nguzo Saba.

These seven values are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Penn State's Kwanzaa Extravaganza was sponsored by the Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA). This year, BGSA vice president Sharaé McKay served as chairperson of the celebration committee. Of the seven principles of the Nguzo Saba, she chose to emphasize unity, but not just amongst African-Americans.

"We have a priority," she said, "on bringing as much diversity as we can to encourage people from other cultures to come in this year even though it's normally an African-American holiday."

To that end, the BGSA constructed a Kwanzaa program that, while containing some traditional Kwanzaa practices like the "ritual libation," was easily accessible to anyone who chose to attend. The event began with the recitation of seven poems and other readings, each representing one of the Nguzo Saba. Sharise Wilson (graduate-school psychology) presented a self-penned poem on the subject of cooperative economics.

"[I have] a dream of changing our image, from ghettofied, to unified," she said.

Next was a dramatic interpretation of the Nguzo Saba, performed by the NOMMO Performing Arts Company. The piece featured three drummers setting the beat for a group of dancers dressed in African garb. After an intense 15 minutes, the group concluded by inviting audience members to dance with them on the stage.

The key speaker for the event was Dr. Beverly Pittman, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Development. Her speech focused on the idea of adults leaving footprints for the next generation. She cited her own upbringing as a primary reason for her current success.

"I learned that you are one of us. You are family. When people try to hold you down, hold your head high, and be proud of who you are," she said.

The event concluded with performances by hip-hop and soul artists Overflow and Tavarius. Continuing the promotion of unity, Overflow, a white rapper, was invited to perform at the event. He was very appreciative of the gesture.

"It's great that they're open to that. There's no disrespect, and that's a beautiful thing. Unity should always be emphasized," he said.

Students attending the event noted that the values of Kwanzaa have great relevance here in Penn State.

Lynda Goldberg (senior-biobehavioral health) said, "Kwanzaa teaches how important it is to succeed yourself, but also to help others whenever you can."

Kenya Crosson (graduate-environmental engineering) stressed similar ideals.

"I think it's important to bring the ideas expressed by Kwanzaa to the Penn State community, like unity and cooperation," she said. "We can treat each other better."