The African Students Association is a discussion group open to all students, whether they’re from Africa or just interested in African culture, with the goal of bringing students together.
They want to portray Africa in a positive light, enrich the cultural diversity here and facilitate the integration of African students.
“A lot of students from Africa just got here and don’t know many people,” ASA presdient Mwauka Soleita Kabwasa, said. “I want the association to be like a family, especially since family and unity are so important in Africa.”
They’ve held a few events at Eastern this year, one of the most notable being their screening of the film by Invisible Children, “Tony,” the story of a man who was forced to be a soldier in Africa as a child.
The ASA’s next event will be their annual presentation panel, Africa: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly from 7-9 p.m. this Thursday in room 301 of the Student Center.
“It’s an open discussion about the stereotypes that people may have heard about Africa and where people can ask questions,” Kabwasa said.
We’ve all seen movies set in Africa like “Blood Diamond” and “Hotel Rwanda,” but how accurate of a portrayal are they?
Hollywood has a tendency to either glamorize or exaggerate whatever story they’re trying to tell, and since Africa isn’t exactly a vacation hotspot it’s free game. That’s what this panel is all about, learning an accurate view of the continent and life in Africa.
The average student doesn’t know much about Africa, but it’s not just Hollywood giving a possibly unrealistic view of the continent.
The news doesn’t usually touch on good things that are going on in Africa unless Angelina Jolie is an appearance building some houses or taking a couple of kids home. Only the bad aspects are shared.
It’s a common misconception that every country on the continent is just plagued with genocide and AIDS. While those issues are rampant, they do not consume all of Africa. While most of Africa is still considered “developing,” it is not an uncivilized country.
Nothing is off limits in this discussion. Their purpose is to inform students.
The African Students Association wants to make sure students have an accurate view on Africa, which is why they want to touch on stereotypes many people associate with Africa and African people.
Everyone is welcome to attend the event. In addition to the students in the association on the panel, EMU African American studies professor Melvin Peters will also be answering questions.
Check out emich.edu/studentorgs/asa for more information on the African Student Association or on Africa: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.
