AFSA Banquet Impresses Hundreds with Traditional African Performances
The steady beat of West African drums filled the TSC Ballroom Friday night at the African Student Association’s annual African Banquet where nearly 350 students, family members and public attended.
Nigerian, Ethiopian and Cameroonian traditional dances involved dancers dressed in brilliant colored traditional African dress.
Female dancers wore white, embroidered traditional dresses during the Ethiopian dance while the Nigerian dancers wore brightly colored African jewelry.
On one performance, five rappers also ignited the crowd with a Gongo Aso-African rap.
Olalekan Olorunsola, senior in civil engineering, said the banquet was put on to give the audience a new perspective and to cultivate African traditions.
“I wanted people to see an African story being told by Africans other than what is seen on the Discovery Channel or National Geographic. Those TV stations already fit into the stereotype we have,” he said.
Olorunsola said getting rid of the typical stereotype of Africa is important in order to understand Africa’s complete history and culture.
“It’s always good to have the opportunity to step outside of the American bubble and feel the African spirit,” he said. “The stereotype the media feeds on us is Africa is filled with hungry kids and TV ads always show someone trying to raise money for African children, and it’s partially true but it’s not what Africa is all about.”
USU students Tim Yindeepit and Daphne Bukirwa hosted the show.
The dances performed are traditionally performed to give praise or a blessing at weddings or royalty ceremonies, Yindeepit said.
Female dancers wore white, embroidered traditional dresses during the Ethiopian dance while the Nigerian dancers wore brightly colored African jewelry.
On one performance, five rappers also ignited the crowd with a Gongo Aso-African rap.
Olalekan Olorunsola, senior in civil engineering, said the banquet was put on to give the audience a new perspective and to cultivate African traditions.
“I wanted people to see an African story being told by Africans other than what is seen on the Discovery Channel or National Geographic. Those TV stations already fit into the stereotype we have,” he said.
Olorunsola said getting rid of the typical stereotype of Africa is important in order to understand Africa’s complete history and culture.
“It’s always good to have the opportunity to step outside of the American bubble and feel the African spirit,” he said. “The stereotype the media feeds on us is Africa is filled with hungry kids and TV ads always show someone trying to raise money for African children, and it’s partially true but it’s not what Africa is all about.”
USU students Tim Yindeepit and Daphne Bukirwa hosted the show.
The dances performed are traditionally performed to give praise or a blessing at weddings or royalty ceremonies, Yindeepit said.
AFSA member Amaris Denson recited her poem called “Sister to Sister,” giving uplift and encouragement through her words which informed the crowd to remain true in beauty in an unkind world.
“I do this for women who refuse to give up and inspire me to stand strong. I swear I do this for you and I’ll do it as long as I live,” she recited. “Tell the world you are beautiful, remarkable, powerful and unconquerable because you are. You are a shining star, they can’t stop you, you stretch way too far.”
Olorunsola said the goal of the banquet was to enrich people with the culture and beauty of Africa.
Muyiwa Ogunlaja, graduate student in environmental engineering and president of AFSA, said one of his main goals was to not only involve Africans but everyone who is interested in learning about Africa and the culture.
“AFSA is not just about Africans — it’s about passion for Africa. I think I achieved that in our program (Friday),” he said. “We are trying to portray the beauty of Africa and to show talents Utah State University has, in terms of the African students, and to let people know AFSA is part of the USU community.”
Broadening perspectives and basic knowledge of Africa to a bigger understanding is what they were aiming for, Olorunsola said.
“Yes there are poor people in Africa but we have their own culture too. Africans have their own traditions they are trying to protect that are totally different from Western traditions,” he said. “It’s very awesome and we are very proud of it.”
“I do this for women who refuse to give up and inspire me to stand strong. I swear I do this for you and I’ll do it as long as I live,” she recited. “Tell the world you are beautiful, remarkable, powerful and unconquerable because you are. You are a shining star, they can’t stop you, you stretch way too far.”
Olorunsola said the goal of the banquet was to enrich people with the culture and beauty of Africa.
Muyiwa Ogunlaja, graduate student in environmental engineering and president of AFSA, said one of his main goals was to not only involve Africans but everyone who is interested in learning about Africa and the culture.
“AFSA is not just about Africans — it’s about passion for Africa. I think I achieved that in our program (Friday),” he said. “We are trying to portray the beauty of Africa and to show talents Utah State University has, in terms of the African students, and to let people know AFSA is part of the USU community.”
Broadening perspectives and basic knowledge of Africa to a bigger understanding is what they were aiming for, Olorunsola said.
“Yes there are poor people in Africa but we have their own culture too. Africans have their own traditions they are trying to protect that are totally different from Western traditions,” he said. “It’s very awesome and we are very proud of it.”
All the dancers and participants were volunteers from AFSA or from local high schools.
Ogunlaja said he was happy about the outcome of the banquet and said since joining USU, he has enjoyed being president of AFSA and would like to increase student involvement in the club.
One of the goals of AFSA is to eliminate the negative stereotypes people may portray about Africa, such as pandemic poverty.
“We can’t take (poverty) away — every country struggles with that, but people need to understand that there are also good things that come out of Africa,” Ogunlaja said. “We are proud that people are respecting people from Africa and that they know people of value come from there.”
-candice.sandness@aggiemail.usu.edu
Ogunlaja said he was happy about the outcome of the banquet and said since joining USU, he has enjoyed being president of AFSA and would like to increase student involvement in the club.
One of the goals of AFSA is to eliminate the negative stereotypes people may portray about Africa, such as pandemic poverty.
“We can’t take (poverty) away — every country struggles with that, but people need to understand that there are also good things that come out of Africa,” Ogunlaja said. “We are proud that people are respecting people from Africa and that they know people of value come from there.”
-candice.sandness@aggiemail.usu.edu