The music playing on the first floor of the HUB-Robeson Center yesterday afternoon was Congolese, or depending on when you walked by, Nigerian.

The mix of songs played from a table on the first floor, where members of the African Students' Association sold tickets to the annual Touch of Africa celebration.

Touch of Africa 2001 will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Penn Stater Conference Center. Tickets will be available in the HUB until Friday evening. The event will feature dinner and entertainment centering around "Renaissance and Diversity," this year's theme.

"Africans are really coming out and getting involved in global affairs. We want to highlight the diversity of the African people," said Derrick Okull, ASA president, explaining the convergence of many countries and cultures on the African continent.

The menu consists of traditional African dishes prepared by ASA members. Since hundreds of attendees will be served, food preparation began yesterday evening.

After dinner, ASA members will present traditional dances and the annual fashion show will begin. This year, however, the ASA is changing the fashion segment.

Instead of the usual fashion show, there will be a celebrity show featuring students dressed as famous individuals from Africa.

"I'm looking forward to the celebrity show. It's a new thing," said Carl Asher, ASA public relations officer. "It's not a fashion show per se, but it's mostly highlighting our heroes."

Two students representing elders, who are respected in African tradition, will narrate the celebrity show.

The annual Touch of Africa segment from NOMMO will follow, and the evening will close with music from Djoliba, an African band. The floor will be cleared so that attendees can dance as long as they like.

"The party ends when people are tired of dancing," Asher said.

Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for non-students with special pricing for children. Shuttle busses from the HUB and Shields Building to the Penn Stater will begin running at 6 p.m.