The African Studies program turned 50 years old this year – also potentially ringing in an anniversary for Ohio University’s African Student Union.
The African Studies program began in 1963 after OU wanted to collaborate with officials in Africa, said Prosper Yao Tsikata, who participated in OU’s African Studies program and is now earning his Ph.D. in OU’s School of Communication Studies.
The African Studies program is part of OU’s Center for International Studies and offers undergraduate and graduate majors.
Tsikata earned his undergraduate degree in Ghana, but said he learned more about Africa, where Tsikata is from, after coming to OU.
“I would say going through that center has exposed me to that continent where I came from more than anyone else. … Our world views are different. The food is different. Those clothes we wear. You come to realize ‘this is such a diverse continent,’” Tsikata said.
In part, Tsikata said, these realizations came after becoming involved with OU’s African Student Union.
“One can trace (the start of OU’s African Student Union to) probably to the commencement of the African Studies program at Ohio University. That is about 50 years ago and making African Student Union one of the oldest student unions on campus today,” said African Student Union President Jeremiah Asaka.
The African Student Union was designed to cushion the cultural shock that is usually associated with traveling to new places, Asaka said.
In Kiswahili, a language spoken in some African communities, they say “Umoja ni nguvu” which means “unity is strength” and the African Student Union is founded from a similar philosophy, Asaka said.
The African Student Union is funded by OU’s International Student Union, though the African Student Union fundraises. The African Student Union has about 40-60 participants.
“Most African students on campus will tell you that they came to appreciate the beauty and strength in African diversity for the first time when they became members of the African Student Union,” Asaka said.
Though OU’s Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones was not aware of the African Studies program’s anniversary, she said she’s looking forward to seeing it celebrated.
“It’s a pretty amazing accomplishment. I look forward to seeing the kinds of things they do to celebrate their success because I think it will be wonderful for students,” Hall-Jones said.
— Sara Jerde and Maria DeVito contributed to this story.
ca052913@ohiou.edu
