African Students Association celebrates 10 years

The African Students Association will honor its 10-year anniversary on UW–Madison’s campus with a two-day celebration featuring keynote speaker Naomi Tutu.

“We’ve spent 10 years on campus, and we’re trying to give back in a very unique way,” says Theotis Sharpe, president of the African Students Association. “It’s a way to build community.”

The first part of the event will take place Friday, April 20, from 6:30-9 p.m. in Wisconsin Union Theater, located in the Memorial Union. During this time, Naomi Tutu, daughter of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, will give her presentation. Tutu has taught at the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut, as well as Brevard College in North Carolina. She has also spent time at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town as a coordinator for programs on race and gender and gender-based violence in education.

In addition to Tutu’s presentation, there will be performances by the UW–Madison University Gospel Choir and the UW–Madison First Wave ensemble on Friday, April 20. The African Students Association will host its annual “Taste of Africa: An African Attire Affair” dinner gala from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, April 21.

The theme of the celebration this year is “Omoja,” the Swahili word for unity.

“[It’s] a celebration of shared cultural identity that strives to bring together different elements of African culture through dance, comedy, theater and music,” Sharpe says.

The African Students Association celebration is free, open to the public and will be hosted by actor and comedian Michael Blackson.

– By Kylie Peterson