Program brings Africa to campus

By ALEXANDRA RODRIGUEZ
Collegian Staff Writer

Members of the Penn State community will have the opportunity to experience a visit the African continent without leaving State College through the event "Touch of Africa."

The activity is sponsored by the African Students Association and will take place at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

During the event, students may experience African culture through artistic performances and African cuisine.

"Not many people at Penn State know about African culture," said Ndubueze Onyike, "Touch of Africa" publicity chair. "This is a way for us to share ideas and get to know each other a little bit better."

The evening will be filled with activities, including sketches, plays, poetry readings, storytelling, music, dance and a fashion show, Onyike added. Penn State students and professional performers from outside of Pennsylvania will participate in the event.

Edem Adubra, president of the African Student Association, said the performances will be complemented by a slide show titled "Africa Today" presented by Harriet Masembe, a professor at Lock Haven University, and an appearance by NOMMO Performing Arts Company. After the performances, students will have the opportunity to dance to the sounds of Afri-Carib and Papa Louis Band from Washington, D.C.

The theme for this year's celebration is "Together into the 21st Century." Adubra said he chose this theme because he wishes to reach people not already familiar with the African community and culture.

"It's like preaching to the convert," Adubra said. "We haven't been able to reach the people who don't know anything about Africa. We want to bring more awareness to these (African) issues."

Tickets are on sale at the Eisenhower Ticket Office. The cost is $10 for Penn State students, $15 for non-students and $5 for children under the age of 12.