African drum beats and smooth jazz filtered through HUB Heritage Hall, where about 300 people gathered Saturday night to welcome the holiday season a little early.

The Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) held its sixth annual Kwanzaa Extravaganza with song, reflection and artwork.

Dance performances featured Nommo Performing Arts Company and Ram Squad, a new hip-hop, funk-style and break-dancing group from the region.

BGSA President Jamil Bey said the purpose of the event was to introduce hope for African Americans to reconnect with their roots and culture, and to rebuild the community and solve problems through collective work and responsibility.

Keynote speakers Edgar Farmer, an education professor and head of Learning and Performance Systems in the College of Education, and Barbara Farmer, principal of Houserville and Lemont elementary schools, presented a challenge to the audience to seek social responsibility to help others.

Edgar Farmer said social responsibility could be defined as the obligation to be responsive to society, humankind and God.

He added that social responsibility begins at home and is brought into the community.

"Spend some time with your family and friends, and then let them see your actions," he said. "In the scheme of things, that's all that really matters."

Barbara Farmer said the "currency" of social responsibility includes commitment, affirmation, acceptance of people and the overall importance of social responsibility.

"We need one another to be a difference to make a difference," she said.

Amber Johnson, Nommo vice president and BSGA social committee chair, shared her poem, titled "Nommo," about preserving African history through the power of words.

"In the beginning was the word. And the word is still spoken," she said in her poem. "And it is still powerful."

Nommo member Shahida Sharir said the company focuses on the concept of Nommo, which means planting a seed, in its performances.

"We use that imagery in our dancing," Sharir said, "planting the seed of African culture in the Penn State community."

Sharir added that the mix of diversity among the company members is unique and allows everyone to bring something different to the performances.

Magdy Taha, Paul Robeson Cultural Center manager, said Kwanzaa provides an outlet for African Americans to celebrate African traditions.

"It also helps to promote diversity and bridge the culture gaps among different nationalities and ethnic groups," Taha said.

Kwanzaa, created by Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate African culture and form a sense of community among African Americans, focuses on seven principles for each of the six days of the holiday, which lasts from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

Sharise Wilson, BGSA's Kwanzaa committee co-chair, said this year's theme is Ujima, which means collective work and responsibility and is one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Wilson said the theme is based on BGSA's goal to fight AIDS this year through fund raising.

The remaining six principles, known as Nguzo Saba in Swahili, include concepts such as unity, self-determination, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

"In terms of Kwanzaa, I think the whole idea is to get people to continue to live all seven principles throughout the year," Wilson said.