Saturday, April One. It may have been April Fool’s Day, but I can assure you that no one at the African Student Association x American Institute of Architecture Students banquet looked foolish. Last school year, the collaboration between these two clubs resulted in the creative, innovative Art Gala. This year, the theme, Avant-garde, had promises of so much more. It was to be the AU Met Gala, a night of celebrity. Banquet-goers dreamed up innovative and edgy red carpet-worthy outfits to attend. From Nilah Mataafa’s (senior, accounting) luxuriously feathered dress to Jewel Murray’s (senior, physical therapy) long black train, the best-dressed of the night screamed opulence.
The night began at St. Joseph’s Inn at Harbor Shores around 8:30 pm. Guests were served salad and large plates of delicious ravioli, accompanied by a side of roasted asparagus. Traditional African delicacies—roti and samosas—were available at a separate table as well. The room churned with color and chatting—the lights were blue- and purple- toned, and Nigel Maxwell’s (senior, business administration) paparazzi cam flashed through the night. Guests had a chance to walk the red carpet at the entrance, get a good meal in, and participate in traditional banquet games. A small ensemble of students performed a traditional dance to a medley of songs. While musical chairs and family feud took place on the stage, with the beats of DJ Eazy [Esmond Appiah-Mensah (senior, nursing)] in the background, guests dispersed throughout the hotel grounds, snapping Insta-worthy photos in every corner.
Ife Kolade (junior, business administration), vice president of the ASA club here at Andrews, enjoyed herself. “The ASAxAIAS banquet was a wonderful and impressive event. I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work with the most talented people. The food, music, and culture were fused perfectly, creating a sensational occasion. This banquet will forever be remembered as a highlight of my college experience.”
One of the key aspects of the Andrews University experience is the vast opportunity we have to celebrate different cultures during our time here. Each of the cultural clubs run their own separate roster of events, which means you probably have the opportunity to try an international food or enjoy an international event at least monthly.
Lydia Boateng-Sarpong (junior, speech language pathology) says, “I always enjoy culturally influenced celebrations and ASA is no exception. I love having the chance to celebrate my culture with the people I care about. My favorite part of the night was definitely the cultural music performance. I think it is important for Andrews to continue to have nights like these because it gives the opportunity for cultural exposure. People are recognized and are able to share a part of themselves with others.”
The yearly collaborative banquet between ASA and AIAS was yet another victory. It hit every note of a good banquet: good food, good entertainment, good outfits, and a chance to expand my knowledge of the world’s cultures. Personally, I really enjoyed the distinct and unique theme—I had the chance to experiment with some new makeup looks and put together an outfit that made me feel like a red carpet queen. I’m immensely grateful that Andrews allows our clubs to put together such memorable experiences, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for next year’s innovative ASA x AIAS experience.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.