Far away from family, adapting to a new set of cultural norms can be lonely and confusing, but family values celebrated by the St. Thomas and UNB’s African Union’s annual African Night makes the transition a little easier for newcomers, students and parents alike.
“I’m from a different country, so apart from my culture and the Canadian culture, I was interested in getting to know different cultures,” said Fahim Mahmood, a third year software engineer student studying at UNB.
“I know the people here came here for the same reason; they want to know about new cultures.”
Mahmood’s is a big jolly guy from Bangladesh who looks like he could snap most people like a twig if not for his disarming smile.
While he’s never been too shy to get to know people from other cultures, he’s always been too shy to attend African Night. Year after year his African friends would participate in the event and plea for him to attend, but they could never quite overcome his fear.
“They’d try to get my come, but I was never comfortable before. I was afraid I’d come and I’d not find my friends.”
That is, until this year when Mahmood’s finally took the plunge and had a great time.
Powerfully sung solos, dance routines, an African inspired fashion show and trays of handmade food had the culturally diverse audience of over three hundred cheering for more last Saturday night. Hip-hop dancers even had children out of their seat dancing along to see if they could copy the crazy kicks and spins, a show all in itself.
Not only did Mahmood meet a new crowd of friends and get to taste a variety of foreign foods, but he also got the chance to get to know more about old ones, and there’s always more to learn.
“There is a girl in my class we call GUI. I never knew she was from Ethiopia. I’ve studied with her for years. I learned something new.”
It’s all a part of an experience meant to make newcomers feel safe and comfortable, give them a taste of African culture and let people ask all the questions about one’s heritage they want.
The event holds another purpose, it give’s those feeling homesick a chance to experience a bit of home, their culture and their community once more.
“In Africa, we believe in extended family relations,” said David Gbonbor in his opening speech.
“We believe in cultural values where everyone in Africa is brothers and sisters.”
Standing before the crowd, Sira Diakit, one of two MC’s hosting the event and a second year business student at UNB, is dressed in traditional Malian garb hand sewn by her mother and given to her for Christmas.
Diakit loves watching her fellow African students show off their unique talents, but she also recognizes the chances African Night gives to older generations to come together as a community and celebrate with the younger generation.
“This night is more for our parents and the older generations who don’t have the chance to get together because they’re working,” said Diakit, “or they don’t have the chance to get together with us and see how much talent we have.”
Highlighting this appreciation for parents, students performed a short drama called Iya, the Nigerian word for mother. To the delight of the audience, the play was adapted for its audience and told the story of an unlucky African mother’s colourful conversations with her children who move to Canada to go to St. Thomas.
The hooked shoulders of Diakit’s orange ensemble curve upwards like orange slices and embroidered bakai fabric glimmer in the light. The outfit is reserved for special occasions like weddings, baptisms and Ramadan. This is her second time as MC of African Night, but that doesn’t make the event any less special – she’s with her extended family.
