Dancers wearing traditional African outfits swept through the Michigan Union Ballroom last night in a flurry of sights and sounds as the African Students Association presented a night of fashion, dance, music and food.
The show, titled “African Lights Mischee” addressed culture throughout the African continent, focusing on issues including inter-generational conversations, bridging the traditional and the modern, and marriage and the family.
“We want to show that there is an African student presence on campus and that we are strong contributors to the University community academically and culturally,” show organizer Ijeoma Nnodim said, adding that it is important to share knowledge and educate the campus about Africa and African history, as well as to let people know there is a resource for those who want to learn more.
Nnodim also addressed what she said was the need for Africans to be able to speak about their history and issues that affect them.
“We are here to say that we are Africans – that we are proud of our culture and our identity and that we epitomize the contradictions of the stereotypes usually portrayed about Africa and African culture,” she said.
Stereotypes that usually come to mind when people talk about Africa, she said, include that one of the first ideas that people think of is AIDS and people dying of AIDS. Nnodim said this and other stereotypes are perpetuated by the media and misrepresent reality.
“Whatever is here in the U.S. is there. No society in the world has a monopoly over poverty and disease, it is in America too,” she said. Nnodim questioned why these stereotypes exist and why the media is intent on showing negative images in the continent as opposed to positive images.
“It makes it seem like everyday there’s war, disease and famine, but that’s not the case,” she said. “People live there like they live here and that’s a fact.”
ASA member Victoria Rosser said Friday night’s show is different from other cultural shows because its emphasis on the continent of Africa.
“I think there are a lot of people who don’t know about Africa, and it’s very important to learn about and embrace different cultures,” she said.
Rosser stressed the beauty of the culture and the chance to experience African culture by way of music, food and clothes. “African people have issues and a culture we should educate ourselves about,” she said.