The sixth-annual Harambee festival, sponsored by the Black Student Alliance, will give ISU students an alternative way to celebrate Veishea this weekend.

“Harambee is a Swahili word which means coming together or unity,” said BSA President Roxanne Smith, senior in accounting. “The purpose of the festival is a time for all of us to come together, celebrate and display our different talents.”

The festival will feature a “Black Out Day” Thursday in the Black Cultural Center from 9 a.m. until late that night; a party Friday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.; a talent show Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall, followed by another party; and a barbecue Sunday in the Black Student Center from noon to 5 p.m.

Friday night’s party and the party after the talent show costs $5 a person for admission. The other events are free.

Jennifer Ray, BSA program director, said Harambee is scheduled during Veishea “because there’s not really anything for African-American students to do during that time, in my opinion.”

“It gives a chance for non-majority students to be together and have a celebration of their own,” said Ray, freshman in apparel merchandising, design and production. “Harambee is really a black celebration of being together with your fellow black people.”

This will especially be showcased at the Black Out, where students will spend nearly all day at the event, she said.

“On that Black Out Day, we’re going to be having breakfast, lunch and dinner at the BCC,” she said.

There will also be a workshop at the Black Out titled “Economic Power: The Value of the Black Dollar.”

Ray said participants will show this power around Ames Thursday by only patronizing African-American-owned businesses.

There is also a national Black Out Day in May, when black people around America only support black businesses to prove their economic muscle, Ray said.

“It’s to show the country how much economic power we have, and that if we for a day don’t support any non-black businesses, we have the power to cause some differences in the economy,” she said.

The talent show, called the Harambee Extravaganza and featuring the theme “The Sounds of Blackness,” will showcase community talents in song, dance, poetry and gospel, said Neakia Payton, BSA vice president.

“Our talent show in the past years have included different things — a fashion show, a tribute to black history. This year, we’re trying to include all forms of African-American art,” said Payton, senior in psychology. “Between each section, we will do a tribute to an African American who has contributed greatly to that art form.”

In the song category, for example, tributes will be to Lena Horn, Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole, she said.

Payton said Sunday’s barbecue will have activities such as a tug of war, dominos, volleyball and basketball.

“It’s more of an open social event. We usually have games and little contests,” she said.

The barbecue will be followed by a concert at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union’s Sun Room.

Although the activities are geared toward black students, everyone is welcome, Payton said.

“It’s open to all people,” she said. “We usually do have an array of people who do come out and support our activities.”