When the silver-clad dancers called Full EFX found themselves without music, they jived to the sound of the unofficial audience rhythm section.
The audience of about 100 clapped and sometimes booed as students from Northwestern and other local schools performed twelve acts and some spontaneous song and dance in the African Students Association’s Apollo Style Talent Show.
The show marks the end of ASA’s first year, and it bodes well for future events and the group’s plan to petition Associated Student Government next year for A-status, ASA President JoAnn Bolude said.
“We need to bring African cultural awareness and knowledge to people. We’re trying to get our name out there,” said Bolude, a Weinberg sophomore.
The show, modeled after “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” featured anyone with a talent — such as spoken-word poetry, rap, and dance — who was willing to risk getting assailed by boos. Audience response was encouraged and became a prime consideration as judges rated participants.
The crowd hushed while Keisha Battle sang the gospel song “His Eyes are on the Sparrow.” The crowd then broke into applause.
Battle, a Medill sophomore, won first place, a prize of $100. Seven students from Evanston Township High School, “Jeremiah Bell and the Playboys and Playgirls,” won second place and $75 for a song and dance choreographed by Bell.
The third place prize, $50, went to Kymm Lowery, a senior at Zion Benton Township High School in Zion, Ill., for her original song, “I Know That You Like It.”
The show drew performers from DePaul University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University of Chicago and ETHS.
Some students said they enjoyed the camaraderie between the audience and performers, especially with the high school students.
“When there are younger (performers) stepping up with an older crowd they sometimes have difficulty not being around their friends, but they weren’t getting booed,” said Jay Terry, a graduate student in mechanical engineering and president of the Black Graduate Students Association.
Bolude and Weinberg sophomores Susanna Ebiasahc and Monica Osei founded ASA in November 1999 to celebrate African culture through music, fashion and cuisine. The group also hosted a Kwaanza celebration, a spades card-game tournament and cosmic bowling for prospective students.
“I wanted to give back to my community, my people, where it all began,” Bolude said. “I don’t mean just my African heritage, my love and my blood, but also my African-American (heritage). I grew up here, too.”
Bolude said she hopes the event sparked interest in ASA, which plans to expand its programming to fashion shows, banquets and a panel of African speakers next year.
