African students reconnected with their roots on Tuesday by moving their bodies in a traditional African dance called the coupé décalé.
The African Student Union, or ASU, coordinated Tuesday’s event along with several others in celebration of African Culture Week and the 25th anniversary of the organization.
Tuesday evening at IM Sports-Circle, ASU members practiced the coupé décalé, a dance which melds African influences, said Valentine Nsofor, ASU president and civil engineering senior.
“It expresses how people are feeling,” Nsofor said. “The movement is fast-paced; it’s not a slow song.”
When first-year graduate student Dany Mascado dances the coupé décalé, she said feels happy.
“It’s a dance that requires so much energy, you can’t really be sad and do that,” Mascado said.
“The dance, it makes you happy to do it.”
Dance is an integral part of African culture and connects people with their heritage, said Lady Lamptey, ASU treasurer and finance junior.
“I think dance is very important because we as Africans get a certain sense of joy from dancing,” Lamptey said. “I feel like we have rhythm. It just naturally comes to us.”
African Culture Week will culminate with Love and Futbol, a gala from 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday at MacDonald Middle School, 1601 Burcham Drive. The ending gala will feature performers including more African dancers, acrobats and a fashion show.
Nsofor said to make celebrations special for the anniversary this year, all the gala’s events will be organized into a theatrical performance and admission is free.
A traditional African banquet will follow the performance. Tickets for the dinner are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
“It’s basically coming together, bringing all African students together on campus,” Lamptey said.
“(But) you don’t have to be African (to come). Anyone who just wants to know about it can come.”
After 25 years, ASU still serves an important role as an educator, said Efua Hayford-Wilson, ASU secretary and political science junior.
People still harbor misconceptions about the continent, Hayford-Wilson said.
Hayford-Wilson moved to Farmington Hills, Mich., after living in Ghana for 14 years. In high school, other students asked if she lived in a house and if there are streets in Africa.
“If misconceptions are not addressed they go on to the next generation,” Hayford-Wilson said.
In general, MSU community members have been more understanding, although she has been approached once or twice with similar questions, Hayford-Wilson said.
“Actually when I came to college, people were much more open, wanting to know (about my culture),” Hayford-Wilson said.
Hayford-Wilson said in past years, ASU has been involved in events including AIDS Walk Lansing/East Lansing 2010, as well as the annual African Culture Week.
ASU also works to promote awareness about African culture to the MSU community, Lamptey said.
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“It’s very important to spread the word and break the stereotypes about Africa,” Lamptey said.
“(ASU) brings all Africans together, preserves our culture on campus, and gives us a common goal — to go back to Africa and make it better.”
