To media and information freshman Rellikson Kisyula, being African is not about skin color, it’s about the appreciation of and interest in African culture.
“You don’t have to be black to be African, as long as you like African culture,” Kisyula said.
The Kenya native was one of the protagonists of a play organized by the African Students Union during the group’s annual gala Saturday night. The gala was one of the events marking this year’s Africa Week.
Union Vice President Florence Otaigbe said the idea behind Africa Week is to bring different African organizations together creating “a united front of African communities.”
“It’s a way to engage the campus community,” Otaigbe said, adding that MSU has a lot to offer in regards to African culture.
The play that highlighted the theme of this year’s gala was about a couple from different African backgrounds. The character that Kisyula played does not like that his girlfriend was holding on to her African traditions, so he leaves her. She goes on to marry the character’s friend who is more appreciative of her traditions and culture.
“It (the play) ultimately ends in a wedding, which symbolizes the unity of Africa,” she said. “We’re all different, but we can still come together.”
Professor of international relations and African affairs and Director of the African American and African Studies in the College of Arts and Letters Rita Kiki Edozie said Africa Week returned this year after a hiatus of about six years.
She said having such a week is important to provide a means for people to better understand Africa and set aside the common stigmas that are associated with the continent, like what recently happened with the rise of Ebola.
One of the organizations the students union teamed up with is the African Student Leadership Association, a newly formed student group discussing political, economic and security issues connected to Africa.
ASLA President Cheick Oumar Tangara said the group focuses on addressing political issues that aren’t commonly brought up on campus, especially raising awareness among African youth in terms of what they can do to improve Africa.
Tangara said through the myriad events offered during Africa Week, there’s a place for everyone to learn about Africa, whether it’s about the politics, culture or economics of the continent.
“Everybody can have something,” Tangara said. “Africa is the one thing that brings us together.”
