Upbeat, African dance music filled the International Ballroom of the Bruce Pitman Center Saturday for Africa Night.
The night of food, drumming and dance is organized annually by the African Students Association (ASA). The theme for Saturday’s event was Litawhid, Africa. “Litawhid” is Arabic for unite.
“We just want to emphasize the importance of unity,” emcee Dorothy Apie said.
Apie’s fellow emcee, Adonay Berhe, said the goal of Africa Night is to always promote unity.
“It’s always been celebrating diverse cultures for what they are,” he said. “That’s why we make sure each part of Africa is represented. As much as it’s important to recognize the individuality of each country, it’s also important to understand we are all African.”
Berhe said the ASA chose an Arabic word to show support for the Muslim community.
The event officially began with a presentation of the flags of Africa. The flags came out a few minutes later than the event was supposed to begin.
“We’re starting in a very African style,” Berhe said.
While students entered in traditional dress, graduate student Paola Branco and non-degree student Brian Hanson went around the room to alter the decorations.
Hanson laser-cut stand-up elephant decorations for each table. The two visited the tables during the event, ripping off the tusks and writing, “Don’t buy ivory,” on the elephants. Accompanying the decoration was a piece of paper with facts about elephant poaching.
According to the paper, 96 elephants are killed for their ivory tusks every day — one every 15 minutes.
Branco completed research in Africa, tagging and tracking elephants. She is studying natural resources at the University of Idaho.
“They’re going to go extinct in the next 10 years if something’s not done,” Hanson said. “Right now, we’re just trying to raise awareness. This is only 42 tables, and there’s 96 killed a day. So we hope that everyone’s going to be sad that their cute little elephant is dead on their table.”
Students performed Rawa, a traditional Nigerian dance, with beaming smiles at the event.
The audience clapped along. Parents and small children left their seats to dance in the aisles.
By 6 p.m., the event was standing room only, while ASA members pulled out extra tables.
Detour, a dance group from Washington State University, performed an Afrobeat dance.
Berhe went around the room and introduced audience members wearing traditional African clothing.
Junior Emily Botterbusch attended the event to support a friend.
“My friend helped put it on and she’s doing a dance,” she said. “I feel like I’m learning a lot already about all the different countries and the dances are really cool.”
World Beat Ensemble, comprised of students, faculty and community members, gave a dancing and drumming performance.
While the audience was turned to the stage to watch and children scurried between tables, students ran back and forth at the back of the ballroom to set up food stations.
The main course was Libyan jasmine rice, Jollof rice and Ghana potato porridge. It was accompanied by goat soup, grilled chicken, spinach sauce and African tomato sauce.
The smell of spices saturated the entirety of the second floor of the Pitman Center.
Afro Beat gave a fusion African dance performance and ASA students gave a fashion show.
Berhe said the planning process was crazy, but worth it.
“I’m still behind on assignments from a month ago,” he said. “It’s really worth it. One of the things we tried to do is reach out to Greek societies and different groups that don’t normally show up to these things. Exposure is everything. You don’t come to college to stay in your own little bubble.”
Berhe said he understands events like Africa Night can be uncomfortable for some individuals.
“Especially at this time, something racial, something Afro-centric can be something of a sensitive topic,” he said. “We want to say, come. Experience Africa, regardless of what party you’re voting, regardless of who you stand by, regardless of whether you think America is great or not. This is African culture and we’re always welcoming everyone.”
Tess Fox can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @tesstakesphotos