Fatou Dibba was one of many people who traveled to Athens to attend African Night in Walter Hall on Saturday, an annual event sponsored by the African Students Union.
Dibba, who traveled from Columbus, said many people are mistaken in thinking all Africans know the culture of the entire continent. Dibba is from Namibia, but she was most excited to learn about other cultures on the continent.
Between events, people in African dress were selected and asked to talk about their clothing. People from all over the continent were able to show off colorful attire while celebrating culture.
Many people brought children, who even assisted in the Parade of Flags, in which flags representing the numerous countries in Africa were carried by people of all ages and nationalities.
“We're hoping that they dance,” Smoki Musaraj, an assistant professor of anthropology, said about her children. “Hopefully, they learn some things they didn't know.”
There were numerous presentations, like Keith Phetlhe’s poetic performance and an east African dance performed by the Salaam Student Union. There were also presentations on music and art, and a fashion show took place near the end of the event.
After the fashion show, there was a dance competition in which participants were pulled onto the dance floor to compete in an intense competition of skill. Victors were crowned, but anyone lucky enough to watch the masterpiece of an event could call themselves a winner.
Feven Berhe, an undecided freshman and a member of the Salaam Student Union, was one of many looking forward to the meal provided by the African Student Union. The dinner featured numerous dishes that members of the union prepared themselves. The meal also catered to vegetarians and other dietary restrictions in keeping with the night's theme of diversity.
Berhe, who took part in a dance number, said the night’s performances were amazing.
“I love my culture more than anything,” she said.
Adrian Blake, an artist from Jamaica, also talked about the influence of his heritage on his art, saying he was deeply influenced by his culture. Blake is based in Athens and hopes to transfer to OU in the future to continue his education.
The event was full of fun, from people trying new foods to the children playing on the stage during dinner.
Attendees of African Night were able to celebrate African culture through diversity, completing the goal of the night.
“Being in Athens, where you have people from everywhere in the world, is not something that everyone has,” Samba Bah, the president of the African Student Union and a graduate student studying international development, said in his welcome.
