By Matt RadlerThe Daily Northwestern
Dressed in white togas and bright skirts, pounding heavy drums and clapping hands, the African Drum and Dance Ensemble capped off Northwestern’s first Africa Awareness Week on Thursday at McCormick Auditorium.
With guest appearances by student music groups Boomshaka and NAYO Dance Ensemble, the fourth and final event of the week highlighted a side of African life that is often missed. That was a key goal of the week, said Karen Attiah, a Communication junior and president of the African Student Association.
“Africa is not just a continent of AIDS and genocide, but a continent with a vibrant culture, with a history of struggle and victory,” Attiah said.
Many of the week’s events focused on Africa’s problems with poverty and AIDS, starting with Monday’s gathering of student activists who have seen the struggle firsthand.
Weinberg sophomore Rachel Berkowitz, director of international programs at NU’s chapter of the Global Medical Relief Program, discussed the lack of available medical care in Ghana and her group’s part in building Hope Center, a child welfare and family planning clinic.
An informational meeting on African study abroad programs was held at the Office of African-American Student Affairs on Tuesday.
Wednesday night, the group hosted its spring film and lecture focusing on the story of a South African family’s struggle with AIDS. Adam Ashforth, associate director for the program of African Studies, spoke after the film. He said many South Africans deny the impact of the disease.
“Fifty percent of the deaths in South Africa, in the area I looked at, were diagnosed by the doctors as the result of HIV, but only two out of 50 families would say that,” Ashforth said. “One health district would consist of seven or eight clinics and one hospital, and there would be as many people in need of anti-retroviral therapy as there are in the whole of the United Kingdom.”
Despite the mix of grim news and cultural vigor, the goal of the week was to promote African awareness, said African Students Association social events coordinator Comfort Elumogo.
“I think it’s gone very well,” the Communication junior said. “The message we really wanted to get out was, ‘Don’t take what you see on TV too literally, try to be open-minded.'”
Weinberg senior Steven Venick, a former ensemble member, said Thursday’s show captured what sets African dance and music apart.
“I just love the energy, it’s really a group project,” Venick said. “It’s a performance, but it has the feel of friends just getting together.”
Attiah said there is good news coming out of Africa, from the election of Liberia’s first female president to the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s independence. By drawing in student activists and the wider NU community, the group can bring that news to light.
“Africa is not this ‘dark continent’ anymore, to use an old cliche,” Attiah said. “People want to learn, and I was impressed by how they sought us out this week.”
Reach Matt Radler at [email protected].
