Africa Night

Africa+Night

Africa Night

By KATHERINE CLAYTON Lifestyles Editor

Event immerses attendees in African culture through dance, food and comedy

African flags of various patterns and colors swayed as they were paraded through the Volstorff Ballroom to illustrate different countries that were represented on the South Dakota State University campus.

The fifth annual Africa Night took place at 6 p.m. on March 1. The night consisted of various speakers, a meal, dance, comedy and other forms of entertainment.

According to Geoffery Koech, the president of African Students’ Association, there are “115 African students at SDSU representing 22 countries.”

Koech said that the purpose of Africa Night was “to motivate and inspire ourselves (African Students) to work hard towards achieving our goals of having our lives enhanced so we can better serve our Motherland tomorrow.”

Elizabet Woche, a senior human development and family studies major from Kenya, was one of the people who carried the Kenyan flag. She is part of the ASA.

Woche said this event was important because Africa Night is the event that ASA prepares for all year. She said ASA tried to “put light on what’s going on in Africa.”

“I love the traditional dancing,” Woche said.

Woche brought one of her professors to Africa Night, Ann Michele Daniels. Daniels is a professor in human development and family studies.

Daniels said this is her first time coming to Africa Night, but she has been to China and India night. “Every one of [the cultural nights] is incredibly enjoyable,” Daniels said.

An attendant, Louise Monge, a junior microbiology major, heard about the event and brought her friend, Heather Laleman, a sophomore economics major, along.

“It’s always good to discover new cultures,” Monge said. “You see the world in a different perspective.”

Community members and alumni also attended the event.

“[My husband and I have] both been coming since we’ve been in school,” said Leslie Sefogau, an SDSU alumna.

She encouraged people to be open to new and different cultures.

 “It’s important for us to … not stay in our comfort zone,” Sefogau said. “We live in a big world with a lot of different cultures; it is good to experience those things.”