Afropolitan, The African Students’ Association showcase of culture was a party and a half last night! Culture fiend Hannah Kramer was sent to check it out.

The African Students Association’s Afropolitan 2014 event started the way that every Columbia event should start: with food. And most importantly, good food. We waited through the long line, strongly considering pretending to be VIPs so we could cut, until finally managing to get our share of the traditional couscous, chicken, and plantain dishes provided by the ASA. Amidst the catchy and upbeat music that played throughout we took our seats and prepared for the show.

Afropolitan’s theme this year was Umkhosi: A Celebration of the African Renaissance, and the event wove many acts together via an ongoing skit about a South African college student-turned-fashion designer, pointing to the wide-ranging abilities and potential in African students. Said student’s parents were the highlight of the skit, which included his mother literally rolling around on the floor in an excellent example of physical comedy. There were also, I believe, a number of jokes featuring common South African phrases, which went a little over my head but were thoroughly enjoyed by most of the audience, including the highly entertained older couple next to me.

As an event that is a cultural showcase, performance was central to Afropolitan this year, proving over again that Columbia can seriously dance. The show started out with an Ethiopian dance group who danced along to yet more catchy traditional music and wore beautiful white costumes. Onyx performed to a mash-up of contemporary songs, memorably including a Beyoncé routine, and later in the show Venom step team showed off their rhythm and impressive moves. The show ended with a final dance routine that mixed traditional and contemporary moves.

Musical performances ranged from solo acts to groups as large as the CU Gospel Choir, which performed during a tribute to Nelson Mandela. Mixed in with the tribute were solo performances of song, poetry, and rap, all focused on the ideals with which Mandela lead South Africa out of the Apartheid.

The show also featured a fashion show in two parts. In the first, models from the ASA strutted across the Lerner stage in traditional clothing, showcasing pieces in traditional African cuts and colors. After intermission the fashion show started up again, this time with contemporary clothing and swimsuits. The student models were diverse, confident, and fierce.

The fashion show received contributions from a number of amazing boutiques, which were open in the Lerner lobby during intermission. These vendors had everything from headbands to bracelets that gave money back to charity.

Afropolitan ended on an upbeat note and moved into an afterparty, which we were unable to attend but heard was totally popping.

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