Students dress up and enjoy African food at Afro-Chella, Nov. 9. (Sabrina Harrison)

The African Students Organization held Afro-Chella, a celebration of African food and culture, the evening of Thursday, Nov. 9, in Legacy MPR.

Afro-Chella was a ticketed event that ASO held in order to celebrate the diverse culture of Africa. The organization decorated the room in traditional African textiles and set the tables with flags from various African countries. The president of ASO, Kome Tobi, explained that Afro-Chella was created in order to put a spotlight on Africa.

“We wanted to kind of bring Afro-Fusion into like the American aspect,” Tobi said.

The event brought in guests of all sorts, from African students not part of ASO to people from completely off campus. One of these people was Asia Zalewska, who heard about the event from her friend Christine Bkutu, a child education junior at MSU. Neither had ever been to an event like Afro-Chella before.

Bkutu is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and decided to come to the event when members of ASO approached her on her lunch run. She went on to explain that coming to Afro-Chella was a way for her to connect with more African people here at MSU.

Afro-Chella provided a variety of African food for students, Nov. 9. (Sabrina Harrison)

“My mom wanted me to be more involved with culture like this, so I wanted to come see what it was all about,” Bkutu said.

As for Zalewska, she explained that although she is not a student at MSU, she decided to attend the event because she wanted to participate in a new culture.

“I just enjoy new experiences,” Zalewska said.

The night was filled with different cultural activities including dancing, a three-course meal, a best-dressed competition and a performance by ASO’s Afro Fusion Dancers. These events came together not only to celebrate African culture, but to help bring people together and carry out ASO’s message of inclusion as well.

“ASO is not just for African people,” Tobi said, “We want everybody to come and feel welcomed and included because it’s a different world.”

The Afro Fusion Dancers perform in Legacy Multipurpose Room, Nov. 9. (Sabrina Harrison)

As the night wound down, ASO held a tribute for those who had died in the End SARS protests in Nigeria. Young people in Nigeria held protests three years ago in order to fight against police brutality.

“We must never forget the lives lost,” Tobi said, “and we should be inspired by their sacrifice to strive for a better future.”