Pan-African Fest presents cultural collage
by Michael Skib
Ever since coming to Earlham four years ago, senior Ibrahim Abdoulaye Ly has been driven by the idea of creating a state in Africa that unites all or most of the African countries, which is why he joined PASE (Pan-African Society of Earlham) in the first place. “[African Fest] really brings all of us together, to work more on celebrating the similarities rather than the differences.”
Tickets were sold out before this year’s Pan African Festival, put together by PASE. Comstock’s doors opened, and immediately students poured in, gravitating towards the scent of delicious traditional African dishes and the sound of contemporary African popular music, making it impossible not to dance. Those in attendance sat down at tables simply decorated with a black tablecloth, a hand woven basket from Tanzania with a small flag inside it, accompanied by a traditional African proverb. Flags also hung from the ceiling, representing the countries of students present.
Some may question whether or not there was something problematic about having a festival celebrating all of African culture and its diaspora. Junior Kapaya Kaoma of Zambia mused, “The idea of Pan-Africanism is lost on many people.”
The unification of Africa is one of the things that PASE is all about. Said Abdoulaye Ly, “The African Union is trying to unite the countries, not because we’re all the same, but because we have a lot more to gain together.”
Abdoulaye Ly suggested that the fight against poverty and disease in Africa would be more successful with better leadership and unity. Senior Nate Garfinkle, who participated in African Fest to model clothes he bought in Senegal during a four-month journey through Africa, offered a thought-provoking quote from economics professor George Ayittey of American University: “Africa is not poor; African politics are poor.” Garfinkle experienced corruption among the police force in Ghana, who would sometimes demand bribes at checkpoints.
“When you see that corruption,” he said, “You realize that it’s not that Africa is poor; it’s got so many resources, so much culture. It’s just the way that the politics are organized.”
That is not to say that Africa lacks unity. Kaoma insisted, “When Africans have to work together, they do.” He also added, “Democracy needs to grow. African democracies are so young. Imagine if you go back 150 years in America and how democracy was back then, that’s the way I see it in Africa. As the older generation phases out of power, it’s going to get much better.”
Kaoma explained, “That makes it worth it for me, to work so hard to put on something that makes people think.”
After people were settled, African Fest’s co-emcees, Abdoulaye Ly from Niger and Andrea Irving of Jamaica, took the stage and the event kicked off. Abdoulaye Ly was co-convener of the event his sophomore year.
As he told the Word, “It’s always exciting, every year it’s another new energy.”
Their chemistry produced much in the way of amusing banter, which was largely improvised.
After introducing themselves and the festival, they invited the visitors to enjoy the food that PASE had prepared. One person asked where the dessert was.Kaoma joked, “In Africa, we drink water for dessert.”
The food was served and included rice, beans, chicken wings, barbecued pork and a sauce resembling pico de gallo. They were served by members of PASE, who all contributed in different ways to the organization of this event.
It didn’t happen easily, though. Kaoma, stated, “We had to go to Jungle Jim’s to buy stuff. I think I made at least five trips to Wal-Mart this week alone.”
All of the food was impressively delicious, especially when one considers the amount of mouths that were fed – and everybody had their fill, with leftovers to spare.
After the magnificent African cuisine, the program resumed. Abdoulaye Ly and Irving chatted, teasing each other about their respective dancing abilities, their age and popularity. Soon a play began to unfold; Irving received a phone call pertaining to a friend of theirs whom had fallen in love with a foreigner. As she commented, “It is really a little bit of a reflection of what happens from time to time back home.”
Senior Lawrence Gardner played the role of the foreigner, in a clever twist that made the point that an African American is an outsider in Africa. At one point in the story, the bride’s father demanded that the foreigner be circumcised, as is traditional in much of Africa. The audience was then treated to a rendition of a circumcision ceremony. Kaoma said that it was included because “Africa has this whole thing about how, being a man, you’re not supposed to feel pain, you’re supposed to be really brave, so we we’re making fun of that a little bit.”
Breaking up the story were several dance numbers set to contemporary African music and two beautiful poems. One poem, by Kaoma, was about what the essence of Africa means to him, and another by Vania De Lourdes Frederico, entitled “The Drum’s Voice.” Each dance was choreographed by student members of PASE, and was received with hearty applause.
The final event was the fashion show. PASE members modeled clothing from all over Africa, from wedding attire to far more casual looks.
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