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

