Van Amos, program director for the Center for Black Studies, is ready to begin celebrating Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa’s seventh-annual celebration begins Friday at Stevenson Towers’ Multi-Purpose Room.

The event starts at 7 p.m., and doors open at 6 p.m.

In celebration of Kwanzaa, the Sankofa dancers and the NIU Black Choir will perform. Special artist Brytish Moore also will appear.

B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S., the Residence Hall Association and Believing in Culture and the Black Student Union all will co-sponsor the celebration.

For Amos, celebrating Kwanzaa is about going back to the roots of African-American holiday tradition.

“Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1,” Amos said. “This ‘first -fruits’ celebration is a harvest celebration that is similar to the ingathering and/or commemoration that are typical of many celebrations on the African continent.”

He said Kwanzaa is organized around five fundamental activities.

These activities enforce commitment to the family structure and African-American culture. Celebration of good, commemoration to the past, recommitment to highest ideals, gathering of people and reverence for the creator and creation are parts of the Kwanzaa celebration.

“Kwanzaa introduces seven basic values that act as a social glue,” Amos said. “These are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and lastly, faith.”

Amos strongly believes that students should get involved with the celebration of Kwanzaa.

“This pre-Kwanzaa celebration is an educational, cultural event that demonstrates and enhances cultural grounding for life and struggle, reaffirms the building of community and enriches black consciousness,” Amos said.

All are invited to attend the celebration but are asked to bring a dish to pass.

“Kwanzaa can be celebrated by everyone because the basic values are universal,” Amos said. “These principals emphasize the building of character within the youth and young adults so that they can grow into adulthood to do good and just in the world. We ask the students and faculty to come out and become educated on the meaning and significance of this African-American holiday.”