ISU students looking for some unique fun and food will find it at Harambee this weekend.

Harambee, an annual event, is Swahili for “coming together,” said Robert Price, president of the Black Student Alliance. Harambee 2001’s theme is `Sankofa’ which means `remembering our past, in order to be prosperous in the future.’

Harambee, which starts today and lasts until Sunday, will feature a blackout, talent extravaganza, taste of Harambee and a gospel extravaganza.

The Black Cultural Center, 517 1/2 Welch Ave., is open for 24-hours for the Blackout, starting at 8 a.m. today. Study sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., along with workshops and discussions. Members of the BSA will serve three free hot meals during the Blackout, said Neakia Payton, senior in psychology and BSA member. She said it will be an opportunity for fellowship and to support black-owned businesses.

“Blackout is not a time of separatism but a time of rededication to uplift and restore the community,” she said.

Other events include After Dew the Rec on Friday night, an alcohol-free party at the Bali Satay House, 2416 Lincoln Way, and the talent extravaganza, a free cultural event starting at 7 p.m. Sunday. The talent extravaganza, which will not be judged, will feature poetry, song, dance and rap. After the show, a theme party titled “Rappers Delight,” a tribute to the creation of hip hop in the ’80s and ’90s, will begin.

Taste of Harambee, scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, will offer soul food side dishes and traditional barbecue items as part of Harambee celebrations at the Black Cultural Center.

Stacie Dunlap, general co-chair for Harambee, said the BSA has sponsored Harambee for the past seven years because they want a cultural event which coincides with Veishea.

“Veishea is a unity and celebration of colleges, and Harambee is a celebration for black people and our community,” said Kietha Renfroe, BSA publications committee member.

Renfroe, senior in agricultural education, said minorities should come to the Harambee events to support each other, and other people should come as an “opportunity to see what we are about and what concerns we have.”

“The whole Iowa State University community is welcomed,” said Price, junior in management information systems. “Harambee is about inclusion, not exclusion.”

Dunlap, sophomore in apparel merchandising, design and production, said Harambee is mostly an educational event for people to see other things that are happening on campus besides what they are personally involved in.

“We take a lot of pride in it,” she said. “It’s a calling of our community to come together.”