by Joy Esiemokhai
It was an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation as over 300 guests packed into the Campus Center Ballroom on March 6 for the 2014 edition of Africa Night. The annual event is a celebration of the African heritage of the members of the University of West Georgia’s African Student Association, and this year’s event, themed “Royal Blood” took place after months of preparation and practice.
Doors opened at 7:00 p.m. and guests lined up with their tickets to get prime seating. The event began around 7:30 p.m. with a video montage honoring late South African President Nelson Mandela. ASA members then performed a dance following the video. After the thrilling performance, the emcees of the evening, Michael Oni and Eunice Ezechukwu, made their way to the stage to welcome guests to the event and provide a background of the mission and vision of ASA and what guests could expect of the event. There were three fashion shows, each showcasing different themes and designs, as well as several dance and music performances. Midway through the event, guests were able to sample and enjoy meals from several countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, while enjoying African music.
“The goal of ASA is to break stereotypes about Africans and to spread the best of our cultures on the UWG campus,” says Tosin Oloba, the president of the club. “Africa Night is our way of showing the UWG community what we have to offer from our continent and our individual nationalities.”
The highlight of the evening was a drama performance titled “Royal Blood.” The performance spanned the entirety of the event, with acts and scenes interspaced with other performances. The drama was about the Nigerian royal family and how the family members struggle to maintain their traditions in the midst of societal change. Guests were kept intrigued and entertained by the stellar performances from the actors.
“This is my first Africa Night and it has been a wonderful experience preparing for the event and seeing the finished product,” says Silola Ewedemi, a freshman and new member of ASA. “I know for certain that I’m going to attend future events as long as I’m still at UWG.”
The event concluded with a thank-you address from the executive board of the club and a cake-cutting ceremony in honor of the Ghanaian Independence Day which fell on the same day as the event. After the event, the club stayed a bit later to celebrate the success of the night.
The African Student Association is one of the largest and most active student organizations in UWG. The mission of the club is to spread the rich culture and traditions of the African people on the UWG campus. Africans and non-Africans alike are welcome to join the organization and help in celebrating and honoring Africa, the birthplace of mankind. For more information on the club and how to join, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/UWGASA or e-mail the club at uwgasa@gmail.com.
