Great culture and “edutainment” at its finest

22nd Annual African Cultural Night
presented by the Association of African Students
Friday, 6:30 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Smith Memorial Center Ballroom
$7/students, $10/general, free/children under 12
503-725-5659 for more info

Speakers: Dumisa Ntsebeza & Otto Siko
Other highlights include: African Food, Woodlawn Dancers, The Reparation Band w/poetry, Omanye Drumming & Dancing, AAS Dance Performance, African Fashion & DJ Da Real Chissu

This Friday evening is another good chance to be educated and entertained (edutained?). The Association of African Students (AAS), a student fee-funded student group, presents the 22nd Annual African Cultural Night. The event takes place this Friday, May 10, in Smith Memorial Center Ballroom.

This year’s celebration includes two excellent speakers and a diverse array of entertainment. South African anti-apartheid activist and Truth and Reconciliation Commission judge Dumisa Ntsebeza talk is titled “Amnesty, Amnesia and Punishment in Post Apartheid South Africa. Noted author Otto Siko lecture is titled “Recent Election in Zimbabwe.”

There will be a variety of African food, a “cultural show,” Woodlawn Dancers, the Reparation Band, whose funky sounds back conscious poetry, Ghanaian Drumming and Dancing from “Omanye,” a dance performance by AAS members, an African clothing display and DJ Da Real Chissu spinning African music.

Show up early so you don’t miss Ntsebeza. He’s been called one of South Africa’s most prominent political activists during and after apartheid, and he played a key role in investigating injustices committed during the system of racial segregation. Under the apartheid regime, Ntsebeza was the target of several assassination attempts by security forces, spent many years in prison and was later exiled.

After apartheid ended, former President Nelson Mandela chose Ntsebeza to be the chief investigator for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission granted full amnesty to perpetrators of politically and racially motivated crimes if they offered full disclosure.

Ntsebeza says this process of reconciliation can help other African countries torn apart by civil war.

The event begin at 6 p.m. and will go until 2 a.m. Cover charge is $7 for students, $10 for general, and free for children under 12 years of age. For more information about this event and the AAS, including how to get involved, call 503-725-5659.