The African Student Union hosted a Met Gala on Oct. 30 to celebrate and showcase the diversity of African cultures. The Gala consisted of performers, fashion showcases and a variety of international cuisines.
Hidaya Mohamed, the president of ASU, spearheaded the creation of the Gala.
“No one has ever done something like this on campus and because of that, it was a great opportunity to educate and show students the various cultures within the African continent,” Mohamed said.
The Global Student Association used to do events like these until this year when the ASU became more established. With ASU starting last year, it gave students, such as Mohamed, time to plan for an event of this magnitude.
Food was catered for students to taste different cuisines from African countries, and organizers decorated the Ponderosa Room in the Nebraskan Student Union. Mohamed and Awab Alfawal, the vice president, also asked the fashion show walkers to summarize the background of their attire to inform the audience of each culture.
Once the stage and runway were set, Mohamed and other students like Nasro Abdi and Esther Uma, were ready to walk in representation of their countries. Uma represented Nigeria and walked the stage in traditional dress.
She said she felt as though this event was, “something necessary for the UNK campus.”
“This event amplifies the diversity of minorities and the representation of the beautiful African cultures, which is something most forget about,” Uma said.
Representation was a focus for the Gala. Mohamed made note of the lack of representation among African students and their diverse cultures on campus.
“The media doesn’t always showcase African cultures in comparison to other sides of the world and there’s a reason these cultures have stayed alive,” Mohamed said. “I want students to feel valued with the importance of keeping their culture close to them and not being afraid to express it.”
Plans for the second African Met Gala are already in the works, as Mohamed intends to make it an annual event. She sees the continent as something that is extremely diverse and would like to see more students participate to inform and display the range of cultural elements.
Students, such as Uma and Abdi, were excited to be a part of an event that showcases the diversity and inclusivity throughout UNK.
“I hope students see this event as a way to gain understanding about why some traditions haven’t been lost through assimilation into America and to showcase the ways in which students experience culture throughout the world,” Mohamed said.
