An eruption of laughter resonated across the SURC Ballroom as two members of the viewers weaved their means from their seats to the stage, bathed in purple lighting in entrance of the group.
Comic and host of African Night time Ubuntu, Normal Mutombo, invited the pair to have a dance-off to a thumping Afrobeats tune, whereas either side of the viewers judged who had one of the best strikes and the DJ accented every joke with alarm-like sound results that ignited the room.
The occasion held on Saturday, Might 7 was hosted by the Central African Scholar Affiliation (CASA) for the primary time for the reason that begin of the pandemic, and organizers mentioned they wished the evening to be particular.
“We went a bit extravagant which is what we wished,” CASA President and sophomore in regulation and justice and political science Ibtisam Sivoy mentioned.
Sivoy mentioned African Night time is a celebration of African trend, traditions and tradition.
“I would like folks to see the great thing about Africa the identical means they see the great thing about Europe,” Sivoy mentioned. “There’s a lot unseen. I would like folks to be like, ‘I’m going to trip in Nigeria, I’m going to trip in Ghana.’”
Advertising main and CASA consultant Atong Miyar mentioned the occasion is supposed to increase a welcoming hand to African college students and permit non-African college students to raised perceive African cultures. Miyar mentioned the occasion was very formal and the theme was “Ubuntu.”
“Ubuntu interprets loosely to ‘I’m since you are.’ It means to unite us primarily,” Miyar mentioned. “One factor about African tradition that all of us have in frequent is we prefer to increase large. At all times … All the things out of your gown, to the music, every part must be tip-top form.”
Impression of African Night time
This occasion included a trend present, a brief play, photograph alternatives, a purple carpet, a full banquet of meals, dwell music, poetry and dances whereas the viewers screamed.
Catherine Lumeya, a senior in public well being who helped plan the occasion, mentioned her favourite elements of the night included the emcee and his entertaining jokes, in addition to the performances.
Victoria Dennis, a senior in psychology, choreographed over a dozen dance items for varied college students to carry out.
“I wish to present them that each one the nights of us coming collectively, practising time and again and over … every part was value it,” Dennis mentioned. “You’ll be able to accomplish something that you simply set your thoughts to.”
Dennis mentioned she feels African Night time is vital as a result of it permits Africans to return collectively in a secure house.
“To know that we received one another, this group of individuals will all the time be there to information you, you’ll be able to come and categorical your self and there’s no judgment, it’s essential to see that on a university campus largely stuffed with white folks,” Dennis mentioned.
Ellensburg has little to no African eatery choices. In line with Miyar, the flexibility to eat African delicacies permits her to really feel in contact together with her roots. The menu included puff-puffs, little balls of dough lined in powdered sugar, and beef and vegetable samosas amongst different dishes.
“The meals had been chosen as a result of we wished to the touch base across the continent,” Lumeya mentioned. “We considered meals that we will discover in all places, samosas will be discovered in all places round Africa. The meat, though it was cooked in east African fashion, you will discover [it] in several international locations. The rice it’s also possible to discover in several international locations, nevertheless it was largely west African.”
African Night time exemplified the values inside an array of African cultures current on this neighborhood.
“I can’t actually discover that contact of tradition round right here,” Miyar mentioned. “By having African Night time, I get to see a contact of my tradition being showcased whether or not it won’t be mine particularly, nevertheless it’s another person’s I can nonetheless relate to.”
Group engagement
Sivoy mentioned she hoped this occasion confirmed the opposite aspect of Africa that folks could also be unaware of as a result of it’s not typically depicted within the media.
“When folks consider Africa, they assume poor,” Sivoy mentioned. “They assume Africa is desert or there aren’t any vehicles, nothing enjoyable to do. I would like folks to know what we do, our traditions. I would like folks to know what we do when anyone loses somebody. It’s the entire African continent shedding somebody.”
In line with Miyar, African cultures are much less individualistic than western cultures.
Public well being main and CASA Vice President Anderson Nsabanga mentioned African Night time is vital as a result of it brings African college students along with folks of all backgrounds.
“I wish to make African college students happy with who they’re and the place they arrive from,” Nsabanga mentioned.
Everybody interested by attending CASA occasions was welcome to attend and recognize African tradition, in keeping with Nsabanga.
In line with freshman in psychology Gwendolyn Perry who attended the occasion, African Night time lifted her spirits and served as a possibility for many who haven’t had as a lot publicity to Africa.
“It introduces folks to totally different cultures and makes range much less intimidating for individuals who haven’t skilled as a lot range of their house life,” Perry mentioned. “It’s very instructional and enjoyable. Folks can expertise it firsthand.”
