ASA organizes dinner, film discussion

The African Students Organization also held a culinary event.

By Emily Roman, Reporter
Nov. 30, 2007

Chris Doering

Todd Schwedt collects money from generous Columbia residents driving by on Broadway Saturday. The 63-hour Rock-A-Thon was sponsored by Alpha Epsilon Pi and raised over $20,000.

A tumultuous period of South African history was the topic of a movie and discussion this past Wednesday.

The African Students Association organized Dinner and a Movie, where attendees watched "Catch a Fire," a movie about the apartheid in South Africa, after a discussion of the history of South Africa during apartheid.

"Being aware of other people's cultures, traditions and ways of life enriches you," ASA President Nadege Uwase said.

K.C. Morrison, a political science professor, led the discussion and explained the apartheid and its role in the history in South Africa.

Morrison said that when South Africa was colonized, white people gained power.

"South Africa was a place where race was validly used in organizing state," Morrison said.

Uwase said in South Africa, the whiter a person was, the more power he or she had.

Conversely, the darker a person was, the less power he or she had. She said white people felt as though black people would take over and stand in the way of progress.

She compared the South African laws meant to prohibit black people from gaining power with Jim Crow laws, though the South African laws were official and enforced.

"Catch a Fire" stars Derek Luke and Tim Robbins. It was released in October 2006.

Luke plays Patrick Chamusso, a black oil refinery employee and soccer coach living in South Africa during apartheid.

Colonel Nic Vos (Robbins) jails and tortures him and his wife, and Patrick is angry at the police and the oppression within his country.

He becomes a rebel fighter against the apartheid regime.

The movie depicts the chaotic conditions during this era in South Africa.

"Catch a Fire" was chosen because ASA wanted to show a movie with contemporary actors that would catch the eye of the young generation at MU and relate to Africa, Uwase said.

Sophomore Hannah Najjemba, a Uganda native, heard about the event through a friend.

"I expect to see South Africa in the times of oppression and apartheid," Najjemba said before the movie had started.

"I hope to see how they overcome it, and how it relates to today's issues and problems."

The ASA also held Taste of Africa: Nigerian Style on Thursday.

For $1, participants ate Nigerian foods cooked by ASA members.

The event included games and discussions about stereotypes and politics, Uwase said.

The group has raised about $1,500 this year.

These proceeds will be used to organize more Taste of Africa events and pay for speakers for the group.

The ASA plans to hold more potluck events like Taste of Africa, for each country that is the homeland of one or more of its members.

Uwase said one of ASA's main goals is to educate the community about Africa but first and foremost, to make sure that students from Africa feel at home and welcome on MU's campus.

"I want ASA to be a safe haven for African students," Uwase said.

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ASA organizes dinner, film discussion

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