NNEKA NNOLIM
For The State News
MSU’s African Students Union brought a taste of African culture to campus last week.
The group’s annual Culture Week, which took place Wednesday through Saturday, focused on creating awareness and appreciation through a series of events, including a film screening, panel discussions and a final gala.
MSU students, staff and faculty, as well as members of the East Lansing and Lansing community were on hand to celebrate African culture and also to learn something about the continent and its people.
“This event was a good chance for the MSU community and the surrounding community to see what (Africans) are about,” said Lanre Williams, president of the African Student Union and a psychology junior. “It also gives Africans a chance to meet other Africans, and this also provided a good portrayal of Africans.”
The African Students’ Union offers mentoring and support, such as English-language tutoring, for African students at MSU, along with organizing various other informative events throughout the year.
Culture Week events started Wednesday with “Everyone’s Child,” a film about two children whose parents died of AIDS and were shunned by their community. A discussion was held following the film about the issues it raised.
Another African issue was explored Thursday when a panel of students gathered in the International Center Library to discuss the problems related to HIV and AIDS on the African continent. Jon Lacey, an outreach specialist in the Department of Psychiatry, moderated the discussion.
Children were treated to storytelling and face-painting in an event geared toward children’s education at the Union on Friday
That same evening, Margaret Aguwa, chairperson of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, along with Fatou Sise, a former member of the Gambian parliament, were keynote speakers at a symposium dealing with issues facing African women and children.
Culture Week culminated at the East Lansing Hannah Center with the gala event, featuring a banquet with traditional African food and a fashion and culture show consisting of dancing, skits and musical performances.
In the culture show, there were performances by a variety of acts, such as East Lansing High School students and the Takonami West African Dance Ensemble, a dance group from Atlanta.
After the dance ensemble’s performance, the group went into the audience and gathered audience members to go onstage for an impromptu dance lesson.
Clothing from several countries in Africa were modeled during the fashion show. Throughout the evening, the audience was vocal in expressing their appreciation for the fashion show and musical acts.
“Overall, the event went well,” Williams said. “We’re glad that there was diversity in the audience, young and old, African and non-African.”
