A great celebration takes entertainment, food and fellowship. The third annual Harambee celebration Sunday evening at Norris had all of the above and added the warmth of a family reunion.

Harambee, which means “pulling together” in Swahili, is the opening celebration for Black History Month. African American Student Affairs (AASA) sponsored the celebration.

“It’s an opportunity for community members, alumni, faculty, staff and students to all get together and just enjoy each other’s company while watching performances by student groups,” said Shawna Cooper-Gibson, director of AASA.

About 200 attendees sat either at round tables or in chairs in front of Louis Room’s stage, chatting and eating. The DJ spun hip-hop and R&B tracks between the scheduled performances.

Communication freshman Marcus Shepard, the Harambee entertainment coordinator, said that the celebration allowed students to “get into a family atmosphere before Black History Month.”

The event featured dance performances by NU hip-hop dance groups NAYO and Movement, gospel music from the Northwestern Community Ensemble, spoken word poetry, and a scholarship award presentation.

“[Movement’s performance] was way more than I expected,” said Medill freshman Tiffany Walden. “They did a good job.”

Northwestern alumna Lisa Tucker presented junior Alexia Blakley, sophomore Brittany Smith and senior Amber Jones with the Gardner-Exum Scholarship Award for service to their community. Blakley, Smith and Jones served neighborhood charitable organizations, after-school programs and demonstrated leadership in various NU student groups.

“It’s truly a blessing from God [that they found] three people that they thought were wonderful enough to give the award to and to have the money [to give] to them,” Jones said.

According to Tucker, the award was originally intended for one student, but extra funds were available.

Harambee planner and Weinberg junior Christina Ford said that this was her second and last year planning the event, but was really proud of the outcome.

“I hoped it’s kept up next year and for the years to come,” Ford said. “I really think it’s major.”