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More than 350 people gathered in Smith Memorial Student Union Friday night to celebrate African Cultural Night, hosted by the Association of African Students, where attendees were able to experience African culture through food, music, dance and fashion.
The annual event is in its 33rd year and is one of the largest African cultural events in Oregon.
The event included a book drive, encouraging people to donate books to an orphanage in Africa in return for a dollar off the admission fee.
Nkolika “NK” Egbukichi, the public relations officer for AAS, hoped that this year’s event would encourage people to be more aware of the AAS and African culture.
“It’s a night to raise awareness [about] AAS [and about Africa] abroad and in Portland,” Egbukichi said.
The evening, which started at 5 p.m. on the first floor of SMSU, began with a sampling of Mediterranean and African food. Dishes included beef stew, chicken curry, coconut rice and fresh salad.
After eating, attendees went upstairs to check out local vendors, cultural booths and nonprofit organizations that help support African communities.
Attendees also received pretend passports, which included a schedule of events and performances.
The second half of the night was centered on African entertainment, including dance performances, poetry, songs, a keynote address and a fashion show.
According to Egbukichi, previous years included a play, but AAS members decided to change things up this year and use a new format. Many of the performances—more so than previous years—included student performers.
The entertainment portion of the night began with a packed ballroom watching a dozen girls from the Kukatonon Children’s African Dance Troupe perform several routines accompanied by traditional African drums.
Like many of the other entertainers, the dance troupe involved audience members in the performance by encouraging them to sing along and dance with the music.
“In the air is happiness—it’s like Africa,” Sheka Dosary, an event attendee, said. “Everyone is smiling.”
Following the dance performance was a video explaining AAS and how the group has evolved over the years.
The group was formed in the 1970s; their mission is to bring Africans in the PSU community together.
“We bring diversity and culture,” AAS President Marianne Mulumba said in the video. “We introduce people to things they don’t know about African culture.”
Following the video was a speech by keynote speaker Michael Alexander, the CEO of the Urban League of Portland—a nonprofit that focuses on equality in education, employment and civil rights for African-Americans.
Alexander’s speech focused on 10 life lessons to keep people true to themselves and their origin; many of the lessons focused on unity among all people.
“People will forget what you say, forget what you do, but won’t forget how you make them feel,” Alexander said.
His speech set the tone for the night, as audiences members came together to celebrate the many different cultures of Africa. Performers drew influence from experiences living in Somalia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Following the keynote address was a musical performance by the band SerayaZ, and poems by Jamila Osman and Joe Mulumba. Kenyan pop and rhythm and blues artist Evashia rocked the house with a powerful vocal performance.
The audience also got a taste of African fashion at the halfway point of the show, as models in boldly colored dress graced the stage.
The night continued with dance performances by Nigerian dance group Chiamy & Friends and Heber Ethiopia, and a poem by Neema Doti.
Closing the night were the crownings of the African king and queen and a vocal performance by Kirubel Mersha.
The attendees’ excitement over the night’s events was apparent.
Abby Dawson, a business administration graduate student, decided to spend her birthday at the event because she had such a wonderful time previously.
“The last year I came here, I loved the dancing and everything,” Dawson said. “I’m so excited to see it all again.”