Sights, sounds, food impress students at Tastes of Africa
Bartholomew Klick
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Campus Life
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"The movement of the hips shows the men that the woman has got it," Michael Muoghalu, MBA program director and ASA adviser, said.
About 100 people attended the event held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Many attendees said they enjoyed the dance, as well as other aspects of the event.
"I wish I could have gotten up there and danced with them," Jim Harris, a PSU alumnus, said.
But one PSU student found the dance offensive.
"It was an affront to my senses," a student, who wished to remain anonymous, said. "I think it's offensive that they would parade such a sexist part of their culture around and that everyone seems OK with it."
After the dance, the ASA performed a fashion show, a presentation on Africa and offered a dinner consisting of traditional dishes from Africa, including pounded yam, an African chicken stew and couscous.
"It's super scrumptious," Harris said. "It makes the world seem a bit more friendly."
The dinner contained a number of surprises for the non-African students present, but they were well-received.
"I'm not one to take to new foods," Afrita Davis, senior in premed, said. "Some of this is strange, but I really like it."
Davis says she didn't find the fashion show nearly as foreign as the food.
"I was surprised by how many of those outfits I would actually wear here in America," Davis said. "They're gorgeous."
Brigitte Baker, a staff member at Ultimate Baja, was also impressed by the fashion show.
"It's almost like it's Bohemian," Baker said. "They're like hippy clothes."
Baker went on to say she could hear elements in the African music that had been borrowed by American pop culture.
"People won't notice that if they don't come to these events," Baker said.
Baker wasn't the only one to hear this.
Alexander Gerges, junior in international studies and history, says the music reminded him of hip-hop and reggae.
"You can really hear the roots of some of our popular music here," Gerges said.
Not only did Tastes of Africa present native food, music, dance and clothing, the event reflected diversity.
"I love that I can bring my child so she can see something other than what's in her everyday life," Kayela De La Cruz, resident of Webb City, Mo., said. "It's comforting to know that there are programs like this for diversity awareness in the U.S."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Wangari Mandela
posted 11/19/09 @ 4:20 PM CST
Wow were you even there! Seriously because it seems as though your journalism skills did not ecapsulate all of the nights events nor are you one to write about international events/affairs for your writing just emulates how you were not open minded and pay attention to nothing more than the music and dance! Africa is more than just dance and yet it is funny how during th hour of activities a dance that took only 4 minutes seems to be the main focus of your article. (Continued…)
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