ISU Bengal

Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Life

Media Credit: Donald Steele Winnie Kimeu dressed up for Africa Night.

Africa Night, Saturday Jan. 26, began with a line that wrapped from the Pond Student Union Building's Ballroom and curved back in on itself. There were a lot of hungry mouths to feed with over 500 people in attendance.

"I could smell the food from here to the Rendezvous. The food is what's great!" said Yonas Tadesse, a senior from Ethiopia.

After waiting in line for an hour to enter the Ballroom, I finally reached the line for food. It seemed the authentic cuisine was the main interest of the hungry ticket holders. While I was standing in line, waiting to get in, many of the people were passing me on their way out after having filled their bellies.

What did they fill it with? There were different dishes from many countries that followed an overall theme of food from Ethiopia, including coconut rice from Zambia, beef stew from Ghana, Mukimo, a dish with beans, bananas and potatoes, and many others were there to please the palette.

"I love Africa Night. I love the food, and the music, too, is amazing!" Samantha Simones, a sophomore, commented while standing next to some African Art. There was a table with depictions of animals done in a natural setting on material that comes from the stalk of a banana plant, and then mounted on an animal skin-usually a goat skin.

Jennifer Fournier, a junior, said, "I love Africa Night. I go every year." The music for the evening was provided by the band the United Roots. They played intermittently through the night encouraging attendees to come up and dance by the stage. I am normally the first one to turn down any opportunity to dance in any fashion, but it was difficult not to feel the percussion intensive music move through you.

"I love the music! It's different from last year and the food is different from last year. Our sorority, Tri-Sigma, is here to support multi-cultural events. I like how they have you participate by bringing you up to dance," said Trich Van Wagner, a junior. "By learning about other cultures, it helps remove the old traditions of racism."

In between the sets of music played by the United Roots, there were traditional dances which were exciting to watch and were cheered on by synced clapping from the audience. With Africa Night being the closest thing to a vacation from our daily grind, it was a night not to be missed.

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