Event to highlight Africa’s cultural achievements

The IU African Students Association’s goal is to “uplift the African consciousness” about Africa’s cultures, said President Axelle Atchade, which is why the group is hosting an African Culture Night this weekend that focuses on Africa’s cultural achievements.\n“I want people to really see that African countries are taking positive strides towards improvement and a better Africa,” she said.\nThe ASA will hold African Culture Night from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday in the Frangipani Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. The event is free. It is the culmination of Africa Week, a week of events that showcased positive aspects of the continent.\nASA Secretary Bernice Darkoa said that the events will address the negative image of Africa portrayed by the media. \n“We want to take the focus off that and shift it to something more positive,” Darkoa said.\nAfrican Culture Night, which is co-sponsored by the Theta Nu Xi multicultural sorority, will showcase elements from a variety of African cultures. There will be African food, music, poetry, a fashion show and dance performances by Afro-Hoosiers, ASA and Gumboots, a South African step group. Democratic Republic of Benin Ambassador Cyrille Oguin will give the keynote speech on the current affairs of African countries. \nAtchade, a native of Benin, in West Africa, wants the event to emphasize the diversity of the continent.\n“I hope people see the different types of things African culture has to offer,” she said. “Africa has a rich culture, and we’re all really proud of it.”\nShe said people think all African countries are the same, but Africa is made up of more than 52 countries, each with it’s own unique culture.\n“We all have deep pride in our countries,” Atchade said. “We’re not all starving or at war.”\nAtchade also said she hopes African countries can come together to solve their problems.\n“If African countries could unite as a force, we’d be really powerful,” she said. “Bringing Africa together in general is always a good thing.”\nASA Social Chair Dominique McGee said there are a lot of misconceptions about Africa. \n“There are a lot of positive aspects that people don’t see,” she said.\nASA also looks to incorporate black culture into African Culture Night with several performances by local black groups.\nDarkoa said she hopes the event will reach both the campus and Bloomington communities. ASA wants to educate the community about Africa’s diversity and individual cultures. \n“We want to attract the demographic that wouldn’t normally be attracted to African Culture Night,” she said.