The air was filled with the sounds of African drums and the scents of exotic cuisine as more than 500 people gathered for a celebration of African culture Saturday night.

The event, the Touch of Africa program held at the Penn Stater Conference Center, was themed "Path to the Motherland ... Tracing Our Rich History." The African Student Association (ASA) hosted the annual event.

"I love learning about African culture. I'm fascinated by it -- the history, the clothing, everything," Lakiesha Cooper (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said before the event. "I came out to see what the program was all about and find out what areas of culture they would focus on."

It turned out that audience members got a little taste of everything -- literally.

The evening started out with a dinner featuring a variety of traditional African dishes, including baked tilapia and fried plantains.

Hosts Ololade Jinadu and Ade Salami then guided the lively audience, which included many people clad in traditional African attire, through an energetic program featuring dance, acrobatics, spoken word and theatrical performances, as well as a fashion show.

Tayo Ibikunle, chief technology officer of Chase Financial Services, gave a brief speech on several prominent and successful Africans and the importance of celebrating and honoring them.

Audience members then rose to their feet for a better view of the Mapapa Acrobats, a group of performers from Kenya, twisting their bodies and defying gravity on stage.

Two acts by the Unity Community Center, a performing arts organization from New Jersey, featured a dynamic lively drum ensemble, dancers clad in bright colors and a costumed man on stilts.

Members of ASA also gave their own dance and theatrical performances celebrating Africa and reminding the audience to remember their culture.

However, no performance by the students received as much audience reaction as the fashion show. Admiring whistles and encouraging shouts were directed at the students as they emerged from stage smoke and strutted down a catwalk dressed in clothing by three African designers.

Andra Barraclough (junior-geography) said she found the program entertaining and interesting.

"I have always had a big interest in Africa," she said. "I've never really been to an event like this before, so it's very interesting. I think it's important to do something outside of your own little box sometimes."