Joelle Makon knew little about the celebration of Kwanzaa before Friday night.

But at the seventh annual Kwanzaa Extravaganza, she and about 200 other members of the Penn State community celebrated African-American culture in HUB Heritage Hall.

"I've never celebrated Kwanzaa before, so this is a learning experience," Makon (sophomore-premedicine) said. "It's broadened my horizons."

The event, presented by the Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA), included singing, poetry and dancing.

"Kwanzaa is celebrated by people of diverse backgrounds across the world," BGSA President Sharise Wilson said in her opening remarks.

After the singing of the Negro National Anthem and a period of reflection and remembrance, a presentation of poems and quotations highlighted Kwanzaa's seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Seven candles were lighted, each representing a different principle.

Keynote speaker and writer Omar Tyree told the crowd of the impact the principles have had on his life.

"We've got to push those seven principles to the masses who just don't understand it," Tyree said.

Friday's "unity" theme was specifically used to encourage the crowd to attend class, take advantage of campus activities and be a part of family events.

"Unity is always about being a participant," he said.

Tyree said he hopes to encourage reading within the black community through his books, which convey urban sociology.

During dinner, which was served as part of the traditional celebration, the crowd was entertained by a performance by The Real Deal Band, an R&B group from Pittsburgh.

The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts performed a tribute to Stevie Wonder as well.

Magdy Taha, facilities manager for the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, who helped coordinate the event, said it is important to promote international understanding at Penn State through events like the Kwanzaa Extravaganza.

"The event is an excellent opportunity to expose the university and the local community to world culture," he said.

Clancy Davidson (freshman-history) said she and her friends had never been to an event like this, but she would be interested in coming back again.

"I think it's fun," she said. "The music is very entertaining and lively, too."

Kwanzaa was created in the 1960s and is celebrated worldwide typically between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.