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While many students reflected on the traditions of the Easter holiday over the weekend, the African Student Union had another reason for remembrance - Saturday marked the 13-year anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.
This year's African Night Cultural Night, sponsored by Miami University's African Student Union, was themed "African Unity and Renaissance" and hosted award-winning singer and Rwanda survivor, Jean Paul Samputu.
"We wanted to celebrate our diversity as well as remember that day and what happened," said Adeline Kikam, president of the African Student Union, Miami junior and native of Cameroon. "We want to be optimistic about the future and learn from the past."
The night also celebrated Ghana's 50th anniversary of independence and African culture and diversity in general, with a fashion show, different dance performances and poetry recitations.
"We all need unity," Kikam said. "We want to be able to reach out to people who don't know much about Africa. It's a chance for us to show them a different side. The media is not always positive about what comes out of Africa."
African student unions from Ohio State University, Earlham College, Xavier and University of Cincinnati all joined Miami in putting together this evening.
"This is for everybody," Kikam said. "This is a chance to bring everyone together - Africans and non-Africans (and) students from outside Oxford as well."
The fashion show exhibited the four costumes of the "African Queen" followed by costumes from the different regions in Africa, and two poems about African pride and unity. Miami's Black Student Action Association contributed to the fashion show.
The students ended with a traditional Ethiopian dance before introducing the main performer, Jean Paul Samputu.
"We didn't want to only focus on genocide," Kikam said. "Rwanda is a country that has moved beyond what has happened. It's not just about genocide but celebrating our accomplishments as a people and our heritage and proudness."
Samputu has won an African Grammy, as well as an international song writing award and says his desire is to bring a message of peace and reconciliation.
"Thirteen years of suffering. Thirteen years of wandering. Thirteen years of remembering," were the words to his first song, commemorating the roughly one million people who were killed in 100 days in Rwanda.
"We thank God because He healed us," Samputu said. "And healed people heal others. We use our music to bring hope to the children and to bring forgiveness to the country."
He ended by engaging the audience of about 150 in a traditional African hymn that translates to, "Praise be to God."
"The music in particular was really great," said Richard Little, senior director of university communications and an audience member. "He was a very powerful singer. All of us can learn so much from something like that. There are a whole range of activities that add to our community in great ways and this particular group has really prospered."
The cultural night was followed by a Taste of Africa dinner, where several African dishes were served including jollos, grilled chicken with couscous and fried plantains.
The funding for the event came from the university's special events funds, Associated Student Government and the Center for African World Cultures.
"We try to come together and make this event happen every year," Kikam said. "The university really helps us with funding. We couldn't do it on our own."
The African Student Union is a little over five years old and has five active members. Beyond the annual cultural night, the students organize several smaller events throughout the semester such as African films, poetry readings, and soccer tournaments between Miami and Ohio State University.
Additional reporting contributed by Megan Milstead.
