"MSU has been engaged in international work for close to 170 years now," Zulu said. "Our biggest engagement in Africa started with former (MSU) president Hannah when he linked up with the first Democratic president in Nigeria and they started a university there, The University of Nigeria at (Nsukka)."

Nigeria may have been where MSU’s involvement in Africa was born, but since then MSU’s connections on the continent have expanded. Zulu said that MSU partners with over 150 institutions in Africa and has a handful of programs that benefit them.

"MSU’s food security and agriculture have a lot of impact in Africa," Zulu said. "We have also worked in health and biomedical fields, as well as social sciences, STEM fields and the humanities."

Not only does the center work to support organizations in Africa, but it has plenty to offer in mid-Michigan. Zulu said there are a lot of benefits available to MSU students who wish to learn an African language before they study or conduct research on the continent. Foreign Languages and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships provide both undergraduate and graduate students with financial support to go abroad.

"When they learn these languages, they qualify for these FLAS fellowships where they can get up to $8,000 in tuition and stipends," Zulu said.

The African Studies Center also works with other communities across the state to help expand teachings about Africa in classrooms of all levels. Zulu said that there is an outreach coordinator at the center who works with K-12 teachers to promote increased knowledge and study.

"We develop curriculum that we give to teachers, we train teachers and help provide information on Africa and how to teach it," Zulu said.

Damaris Choti, the coordinator of student and alumni programs at the African Studies Center, said the center is not only reserved for students who are African or have an African background. She encourages everyone, regardless of identity, to engage in their programs to learn more about the continent. 

"If we are promoting knowledge about Africa, we shouldn’t only be working with students from Africa," Choti said. "(The African Studies Center) feeds into the mission of the university, and that is to promote global learning and global citizenship."

One of the African Studies Center’s biggest events, Taste of Africa, will take place on April 11 at 6 p.m. in McDonel Hall. Choti explained that the event allows for hands-on learning of various aspects of African culture, as well as an opportunity to socialize with members of the center and African student groups on campus. With around 200 attendees annually, Choti said that it initially was a one-time event but became annual due to its popularity.

"People learn to cook African dishes and have fun trying to dance to African music, and also just networking and getting information on what the center provides," Choti said.

For MSU students like biochemistry senior Joel Thuo, who is the head of PR for the African Students Union, the African Studies Center has helped to broaden his understanding of African history and culture.  

"I’ve been able to learn more about different African countries and different cultures," Thuo said. "Their Tea Time sessions that they host every week have been very useful when it comes to expanding my knowledge on African cultures and traditions."

The African Tea Time sessions, explained Thuo, is a casual setting for students to gather and learn more about the continent while drinking African tea. There is usually a guest speaker who will share information about issues, cultures and traditions in a specific African country.

"We’ve been able to have good discussions and we get to learn more about situations that are happening across the continent that you wouldn’t truly know about if you didn’t go out of your way to research it," Thuo said.

Students who want to get involved with the African Studies Center can visit their website to browse their programs and upcoming events. All MSU students, regardless of background or identity, are encouraged to take advantage of the center’s resources and learn something they might not have previously known about Africa.

"MSU gives us the world, but sometimes we don’t make good use of it," Choti said.