African students showcase own culture
Published March 4, 1997
Memorial Union's Stotler Lounge became a piece of Africa Saturday night as students and friends gathered to celebrate the end of Black History Month.
The African Students Association sponsored the event, "Back to the Roots," which featured a buffet of African dishes, a fashion show, a drum performance and dancing to native music. About 100 people attended.
A slide show, depicting scenes across the continent, including a marketplace of homemade crafts in Zimbabwe, the city of Nairobi, Kenya, and other scenery, started off the evening.
Some people traveled from out of state for the event.
"It's a good way to show people what real Africa is really like," said Farai Nyandoro, a Southern Illinois University graduate student from Zimbabwe. She and a friend from Chicago came because they know one of the event's organizers.
Several MU students spent the entire day preparing the buffet. Ethnic foods included coconut rice, fried plantains, ground nut turkey, beef curry and fried fish.
MU senior Byron Dill said he came to the event because he is friends with ASA President Wabei Walusiku.
"I wanted to come and see a little bit of her culture," Dill said. "The food was excellent — I've never tried African cuisine before. It's very different."
He called the African buffet "a nice change" from dorm food and McDonald's, and said he really enjoyed the event.
"It gives the opportunity to find out about other cultures at Mizzou," Dill said.
Walusiku said ASA tries to host one such event each semester to bring cultural awareness to the community. About 50 African students study at MU, she said.
"A lot of people have misconceptions about Africa," she said. "We're here to bring cultural awareness to the community."
She said she hoped guests would leave with a "better understanding of what we are — not have this misconception about us."
Drummer Morgan Matsiga, an MU graduate student, entertained the crowd after dinner. For the fashion show, several people modeled African clothes as the announcer described the clothing and its origin.
One model, Farai Madzura, is a freshman from Zimbabwe.
"This is a really good celebration," he said. "It's a real mixture, a good variety of African culture."
Walusiku said promoting awareness of her heritage does not stop at evening's end.
"I talk about where I'm from all the time," she said.