print versionAfrican Heritage Week - Back to the roots
This week is dedicated to African historical and cultural heritage at Jacobs University. Students from the African, Black and Caribbean Student’s Association (a.b.c.s.) are organizing the annual African Heritage Week, which is taking place April 16 – 21. This year’s motto is “roots”, exploring traditional African customs plus their effects on today’s culture on the continent.
April 16, 2012In the following days a rich program showing Africa’s cultural diversity under the motto of “roots” will be taking place on campus. “People will see us appearing very modern. But we also want to go back to where it all stems from, to the roots of Africa,” says Patience Vimbayi Mushamiri, 21, who is part of the African Heritage Week organizing team.
“We are introducing almost every African country represented on campus. So we have different things like dances from Kenya, Tanzania, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, also some interesting aspects from South Africa or from West Africa, from Ghana and Senegal. It’s basically a mix of everything,” says Patience.
Starting with an African movie night called ‘Africa United’ the African Heritage Week opens its doors at Jacobs University’s residential college Nordmetall, on Monday April 16, at 9 p.m.
In addition to the movie night African Heritage Week offers workshops where people can learn and partake in African dances. Also face-painting or making African pearl bracelets will be on the agenda. “On Wednesday there will be a forum with African as well as non-African students from campus and some professors talking about issues affecting Africa at the moment,” Patience explains.
On Thursday, April 19 visitors can spend time at a project fair and listen to talks by people and initiatives working in Africa. Music and poetry are awaiting visitors on Friday, April 20 before the big finale on Saturday, April 21will take place at the Information Resource Center at 7 p.m., which will combine songs and dances from all across the African continent with a mouth-watering buffet of local delicacies.
“We definitely hope everyone is going to have fun,” says Patience. “We want people to enjoy the event and create a good and happy atmosphere.”
