by Hanna Singh
Ruston experienced an exciting evening of cultural celebration last Saturday as the African Student Association (ASA) at Louisiana Tech University hosted its annual Africa MegaFest. The event highlighted the rich diversity of African heritage through music, spoken word, food, dance and fashion.
Attendees, many dressed in vibrant African attire, gathered to honor the beauty, culture and excellence of African culture. They also recognized the academic successes and leadership of African students at Louisiana Tech. The event featured authentic African cuisine, dramatic performances, and musical entertainment, displaying the beauty of different cultures across the continent.
The evening began with a networking social, providing guests the opportunity to connect and engage. ASA members then welcomed the audience with a heartfelt message about the significance of the event and the organization’s efforts to bring it to life.
Dr. Christobel Asiedu, the keynote speaker, delivered a moving address on the development and promise of the African continent. She referenced recent projections from The New York Times and emphasized Africa’s growing global impact.
“The world is becoming more African,” Asiedu said. “The continent has an enormous opportunity to derive economic growth through investments in education, health, and more.”
The program included a range of cultural performances, such as a traditional welcome dance, vocal solos, soul guitar music, and a contemporary dance retelling of a royal love story. Following the performances, guests were treated to a buffet of African dishes representing multiple regions. Menu items included Chin-chin, Puff Puff, Zobo, Jollof Rice and Stewed Chicken, Moroccan Chicken, Eba with Pondu Sauce, Poundo Yam with Spinach Stew, and Feijoada.
The event also featured many other kinds of entertainment, with an African fashion show, food eating contest and a quiz game on African cultural knowledge. To close the night, several ASA members received awards for leadership and academic achievements.
Not only was the event meant to recognize the dedicated African students at Louisiana Tech, but also the event was meant to shed light on the beauty of African culture.It served as a reminder that Africa is not all one big culture, but a continent made up of 54 individual countries, each with its own languages, customs and traditions. Within these countries there exist many ethnic groups, all with their own unique cultures. President of the ASA, Habeeb Adenle, shared why it is crucial to share African culture across the world.
“There are so many things that make African culture truly special, but a few that stand out to me are its strong emphasis on family values, self-discipline, integrity, respect for elders, honesty, hard work and humility,” Andenle said. “In simple terms, it teaches us to be people of exemplary character. We honor the communities that host us and hold knowledge in the highest regard. If I had the chance to share anything about my culture, it would be our rich cuisine, vibrant attire, deep-rooted family values and our unwavering resilience.”
The African Student Association is a student-led organization at Louisiana Tech University dedicated to supporting the academic, social and financial well-being of African students and students of African descent. To learn more about the organization, email asa@latech.edu.
