News

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s African Students Association (ASA) held its opening ceremony for African Week on Tuesday in the Morris University Center. 

“We want to raise consciousness about Africa and take out the misconceptions,” said Ololade Mustafa, ASA vice president. “Some people think that Africa is ravished with poverty. Some people do not seem to consider the beauty and abundance that is in the continent. Every country in Africa has its rich and poor, just like the U.S.” 

ASA students provided a booth in the MUC where they provided information about the second largest continent in the world and afforded opportunities for people to learn how to make African beads and learn more about African Week and African Night, and displayed African head dressing and attire for people to try on. ASA students sponsored the event in conjunction with SIUE Student Government. 

“Another misconception about Africa is that it is a continent with only black people,” said Mustafa, who is originally from Nigeria. “It snows in North Africa, and the people there have light skin.” 

The theme for the week is Kadima, which is a South African word that means “Together we move forward.” 

"We hope is that everyone would move forward in their knowledge of the world," said Mustafa. "We also hope that African students would acquire the necessary information on how to move forward in all aspects of their life. 

“We expect to have an informative, fun time this week,” she continued. “And we encourage everyone to come out for African Night on Feb. 20.” Tickets for African Night can be purchased at the Morris University Center Information Desk on the campus of SIUE.

Activities for the week include:

11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Morris University Center Hickory Room
HIV Awareness Day/ HIV/AIDs free testing, counselling and contraceptives

3-4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 18
Student Success Center, room 1203
African Employment Day
International Office Optional Practical Training Session

4:30-6 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 18
Student Success Center, room 1203
African Student Association Employment Symposium

4:30-6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 19
Student Success Center, room 1203
African Round-table Session, “Africans in Diaspora Collaboratively Moving Africa Forward”

5:30 p.m. - doors open
6-9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20
Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom
African Night
African food, music, drama, dance and more. Tickets can be purchased at AfricanNight.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of more than 14,000.

Photo:

L-R: Shown are Uyoyoghene Onothoja, graduate student; Heavenleigh Stonewall, sophomore; and Ololade Mustafa, grad student, and all in the College of Arts and Sciences.