More than 150 students got a taste of African culture with dances, drum songs and a colorful fashion show Friday night.
The event was part of a weeklong celebration of Africa put on by the African Student Association at ASU to showcase the continent's culture.
"Is Africa only about AIDS, war and famine?" biochemistry junior Chipepo Mugala asked the audience as she emceed the fashion show. "I have been to Africa, and I can tell you that is not the case."
Different cultures were highlighted with authentic outfits. Each country represented had an ASU student present from that nation.
"We are different people just in one big continent," said Hadiza Mohammed, a pre-business junior.
Throughout the night, drum beats from guest band African Tam Tam filled the room.
"[Drums] are a really big part of African culture," Mohammed said.
Kristofer Hill, an accompanist for the ASU Dance Program, performed with African Tam Tam.
He said he loved African culture because "they have a really close relationship with the earth and [their music] is really ceremonious."
African Tam Tam played various cultural songs that prompted dancing.
"There is not formality in [the dances], we just do them with no practice," said Joram Sachida, a math junior who helped organize the event.
Sachida, the public relations chair for AFSA, said the event was a success.
"We [AFSA] realized that in order to realize our future, we need to go back to our roots," Sachida said.
The theme of the night represented that idea via an African word, sankofa, which means 'learn from the past and build for the future.'
Lourdes Lopez, a finance and supply-chain management senior, attended the event.
"I had no idea they had such a beautiful outfit and way of behaving," she said.
Reach the reporter at amanda.m.gonser@asu.edu.
