Tantalizing smells of foreign foods wafted through the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel Saturday night. A crowd of 750 people chatted while music from different parts of Africa played in the background.

The annual Touch of Africa celebration, presented by African Students' Association (ASA), was underway.

This year's Touch of Africa drew students, staff, community members, families and guests to Presidents Hall. Forty flags from African countries were hung to showcase the diversity of the continent, which was part of the night's theme.

The event featured dinner and entertainment provided by ASA members as well as guest performing groups.

The food selections came from across the African continent and were all made by members of ASA. Chefs from the Penn Stater were present to ensure compliance with food safety regulations, but did not prepare the dishes.

"We don't cook according to recipes," said Amikola Byrd (graduate-electrical engineering), who organized the cooking for the evening. "It's difficult to impart to someone who doesn't know the food how to prepare it."

The evening's entertainment included three dance groups. While dessert was served, a group of five drummers took the stage. Once most people were settled into their seats, the drums played loudly and dancers entered the stage for NOMMO Performing Arts Company.

After NOMMO left the stage two narrators began the celebrity show, which replaced the usual fashion show. Members of ASA dressed as famous Africans while the narrators explained their achievements. The show highlighted athletes, innovators and political figures.

An ASA dance group took the stage halfway through the celebrity show to the cheers of audience members who recognized some of the dancers.

Following the show, professional dance troupe Point of Impact performed, using both spoken word and dance in its numbers.

At the close of the final dance number, it was the audience's turn to dance as African musical group Djoliba began to play. People in both American and African attire moved toward the band's stage and began to dance.

"It's interesting to see how people dress and different ways of living," said Tasha Riepensell (sophomore-nursing), who traveled from Penn State Berks to attend the event. Riepensell, who is taking an African literature class via satellite from her commonwealth campus, came to the program to fulfill an out-of-class assignment requirement.

University Park students also learned from and enjoyed the evening.

"I thought it was beautiful," Angela Davenport (senior-agricultural business management) said. "It was really a good show."