Fest celebrates diversity

Students, staff and community members celebrated diversity at N.C. Central University’s 6^th annual International Festival last week. The crowd gathered in the Alfonso Elder Student Union to experience the multicultural event. The festival included a variety of music, food and culture from different areas like Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Nursing freshman Fantasia Blue was one of the students who volunteered to help. Blue and six other students from Tita Hunter-Herod’s Spanish II class assisted with the table for Asia. She said that a lot of preparation went into the event.

“It took three hours to prepare the egg rolls,” said Blue.

One of the things Blue said she most looked forward to was the food tasting.

The arrangement included “arroz con pollo,” beans, tortillas and red velvet cheese cake. The popular Indian desert, Rasmalai, was donated by English professor Kuldhip Kuwahara who is from Punjab, India. She said that food is one part of raising the level of peace consciousness on campus.

“We need food for thought,” said Kuwahara. “Once there’s food, people will sit down and talk together.”

Kuwahara dressed in a traditional Indian outfit known as a Saree, or Sari complete with a Bindi (a third eye). The professor said that a Saree is a length of material – hers being six yards – draped around the body. In different parts of India saree’s are worn in different fashions.

After eating a fair share of food, the crowd settled down to view the performances which opened with a dance from the Association of Students For A Better Africa.

Other highlights were a belly dance from Mastewal Gezahegn, singing from Vitavious Wilson, and dancing from the Spanish club, Voces Unidas. Students from the Bushido Judo School also demonstrated martial arts techniques with audience participation. Hilarity ensued when students were called upon and pulled on the floor to dance to the Korean hit “Gangnam Style.”

Spanish junior Erin Mclaughlin, a member of Voces Unidas, performed to a song that translated into “Where I Come From.” Mclaughlin said that she was pleased to see different cultures come together and have fun.

“It’s important to see that we have a lot of internationalization on campus,” said Mclaughlin.