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The Pan-African Association hosted Africa Nite 2008 in the Pilot House Thursday, Nov. 20, .
The purpose of Africa Nite was to "Bring together students of African origin or descent, in an environment that promotes productive socio-cultural interactions and the open exchange of information and ideas about Africa with one another and the greater UM- St. Louis community."
The University Program Board, the Student Government Association, the Center for International Studies and the Black Leadership Organizing Council co-sponsored Africa Nite.
Africa Nite began with a welcome by Bridget Member-Meneh, president of the Pan-African Association.
"[It was about] educating people and sharing cultures with everyone. This was a night of celebration as well as how people interact with each other," Member-Meneh said.
Due to budget costs, only 200 people were allowed to come to Africa Nite and participate.
Yet because of an unforeseen abundance of people who showed up, at least 250 came anyway.
Africa Nite included a flag ceremony that recognized different countries in Africa. Even though all were not represented, again due to the budget allowance, flags from different regions were shown.
Represented were flags from Nigeria in western Africa, Egypt in North Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya in East Africa and the Pan-African flag was also shown.
"[Africa Nite] is about culture, food and people [of] different nationalities; all from the same country, their similarities and appreciation of their culture," Prince Moses Bulus, senior. electronic computer engineering, said.
At one point in the night, Member-Meneh and Eric Aihie, dressed in African attire, recited two poems in their native language. The poems were called, ' Where the Rainbow Ends' and 'The Song We Called.'
Jason Vasser, co-chair of BLOC, also recited a self-written poem titled 'He Read the Conversation That Changed My Reflection.'
Event goers took a one-hour break to try African food. The food was served buffet-style and included meat pie, fried goat meat, chicken plantain, peanut soup and Kpomo, a sweet meat. The dessert consisted of savory vanilla and coconut cake.
After tasting African food, 10 members of the University of Missouri-St. Louis' Gospel Choir sang "Glory of the Lord" and members of the Associated Black Collegians performed a step show to entertain visitors.
Sheilah Ekong, associate professor, anthropology, was the guest speaker for the night. Ekong spoke of the event's theme, "fear not for man."
Ekong enlightened and informed students as well as the community about Pan-Africanism and bringing the black community together through culture and experience.
"I've been here since the fall of 1992… [Through Africa Nite we] want to remember who sacrificed so we can make a difference," Ekong said.
Nancy Boch, an 8th grade special education teacher in the Affton school district attended Africa Nite, and said she attended the event with her daughter, Rachel, who told her of the event. "I appreciate the immense diversity," Boch said.
Guests at Africa Nite witnessed African dances performed by the Peace Bird Dancers from Ivory Coast; they heard African music and played African trivia games where each person won African gifts.
Performers Francisco Rizadeneya and Efe Ikanone used drums from Africa to entertain and educate guests.
"[These are] West African drums, called Djembe," Cafph Guei, another drum player said.
"My whole family plays," Guei said. "I started at 2 years old."
Also included in Africa Nite was a fashion show featuring traditional African dress. Men and women walked down the aisle to show off robes from different parts of Africa.
Fahad Almjaman, freshman, finance and international business, who is from Saudi Arabia came to the event to learn about African culture and said "the Egyptian culture was most interesting."
"I [also] learned [about] the Nigerian culture. They have different tribes for example Yoruba. You can easily recognize the different tribes by facial shapes," Almjaman said.
Lime yellow attire from Senegal was worn in the show, which represented the top class worn to show rank in society. These clothes are the "traditional clothing of the traditional Southside of Nigeria," Jeff Okugbo, junior, biology said.
Throughout the evening attendants who originated from Africa and those who did not all came to enjoy, learn about and interact with other cultures.
Khadra Bashir came to Africa Nite at the suggestion of an UM-St. Louis friend.
"My friend Zufu invited me, she goes to [UM-St. Louis]. I'm around a lot of different cultures all the time. I came through an agency when I got here and I work with refugees and African immigrants," Bashir said.
Food, trivia, dancing and clothing contributed to an expression of the many different cultures throughout the African continent.
"I learned a lot of stuff," Member-Meneh said. "Like with the trivia. I thought some were so hard and people actually got it. This [was] a night of celebrating."
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