The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Michigan in Color
Thursday, April 13, 2017 — 3
“Shaka: Our Africa” is a
fitting title for the annual
culture show that showcases
Africa. For the past 19 years, the
African Students Association
has put on the culture show
to celebrate the roots of its
members. This year, I had the
privilege of being a part of the
show, so I’m giving you all an
exclusive look into what the
show means to the community
that puts it on and to me, a
senior editor for The Michigan
Daily’s Michigan in Color. To
me, ASA is my home away from
home. My outlet to remember,
appreciate and celebrate my
Nigerian roots.
Special
thanks
to
our
wonderful photographer Adam
Brodnax, fellow MiC senior
editor and Business junior, for
capturing the show in all its
glory.
“For the first time, I made it
out to the ASA Culture Show,”
Brodnax said. “It was an
incredible experience that gave
me a glimpse into the beauty
and complexity of Africa and
the many countries’ unique
cultures. I was humbled to be
able to capture the event and
seeing so many of friends was
so exciting!”
A lot of people may think
Africa is filled with third-
world
countries,
poverty,
violence and hunger but ASA
wants you all to know there’s
so much more to Africa. Shaka
presents to its audience the
beauty of our Africa.
“The culture show was such
a great experience that allowed
me to better understand African
culture while appreciating it at
the same time,” said Che ’Rai
Laster, LSA freshman.
“I loved Shaka. It took me out
of my comfort zone. It made me
embrace my culture more than I
already do,” said Bianca Oteng,
LSA sophomore.
“ASA
is
important
to
me because it allows me to
showcase my culture in a fun
and creative way,” said Zinny
Weli, Engineering senior.
“The ASA culture show has
been an opportunity for me to
learn more about the diversity
and beauty that is found within
Africa. The show celebrates
difference as a strength and
avenue to explore similarities
that we also share across the
various ethnic backgrounds of
participants in the show. I have
been in the show these past two
years, and as I go into my senior
year, I look forward to being
able
to
experience
another
culture
show,”
said
Sharae
Franklin, Education junior.
“I have great admiration
and love for African culture,
and because Africa is a huge
continent, vast and diverse, I
always need to learn more. The
more countries I visit, the more
humble and in awe I am of how
much I did not know. I feel in
my blood we are all related and
all humanity originated from
Africa!” said Oana GiraAmata,
a dance instructor.
“I wish I would have taken
the initiative to be a part of ASA
my freshman year so I could’ve
had four years of being a part of
such a wonderful community. To
me, ASA is a space where I can
truly be myself, learn about my
heritage, and meet others that
also share my love for jollof rice
and fried plantains. Nigerian
jollof rice, that is,” said Paul E.
F. Akande, Engineering senior.
“ASA to me means knowledge
and
revelation.
Knowledge
about the beautiful culture
that comes from Africa. Being
in ASA has helped to rewire
my psyche and dismantle some
of
the
internal
stereotypes
that were placed upon me, and
many others, by society. Being a
member exposed me to various
African dishes — my favorite
being jollof — and African
contemporary music, aspects
of African culture that I would
never have been exposed to
otherwise. I now greatly desire
to travel to Africa and uncover
some more wonderful African
culture.
ASA
also
means
community and friendship. I
treasure the many relationships
that I have built. Those in
this organization are some of
the most genuine, funny and
talented people that I have ever
met,” said Ethan Parker, LSA
sophomore.
“ASA means the world to
me. I’ve found people who
understand me and who I can
share my love of African culture
with. ASA values educating
and reaching the larger campus
community
about
African
culture, which is very important.
My favorite event by far was the
annual culture show. This year,
I had the privilege to model in
the fashion show. I had never
modeled before, but it was such
a great first experience! My
friends without any ties to the
African continent attended the
culture show, and I was beaming
with pride over the show we put
together. Busting African myths
in positive and engaging ways
is what ASA is all about. I’m
so glad I stopped by the ASA
table in crowded FestiFall as a
freshman because it’s made my
Michigan experience special,”
said Oluwatosin Adeyemi, LSA
freshman.
“I see ASA as a community of
people that are passionate about
their African heritage and that
want to be surrounded by other
Africans and ultimately educate
people on its rich culture. The
culture show is definitely my
favorite
event
because
the
members educate the audience
about
the
African
culture
through clothing, informational
videos and live performances,”
said Kingsley Enechukwu, LSA
freshman.
We are Uncover: A/PIA —
Asian/Pacific Islander American
—
and
the
United
Asian
American Organizations, two
pan-Asian-American
student
organizations at the University
of Michigan. Earlier this year,
at Columbia University, Chinese
students experienced anti-Asian
sentiments in their dormitories.
Students
with
perceived
Asian names had their name
tags ripped off their doors. In
response to this event, these
students created a film about
their experiences and created
the hashtag #SayMyName to
draw awareness to the incident
and highlight the importance of
their names.
We decided to organize a
#SayMyName photo campaign
and video interview in solidarity
with the Chinese students at
Columbia University. We are
not attempting to equate our
experiences with those of the
Columbia students. Rather, in
expanding
the
#SayMyName
movement to the greater Asian/
Pacific Islander community, we
hope to showcase the diversity
of students who stand alongside
those at Columbia University.
Our photo campaign and video
interview
feature
narratives
from
students
here
at
the
University of Michigan. Both
the photo campaign and the
video can also be found on the
Uncover: A/PIA Facebook page.
If you feel compelled to join the
#SayMyName
movement,
we
encourage you to upload a photo
of yourself with your own name
story. Tell us why you think the
movement is important and use
the hashtag #SayMyName.
Uncover APIA x UAAO
Celebrating our Africa
SIVANTHY VASANTHAN
MiC Senior Editor
HALIMAT OLANIYAN
MiC Senior Editor