Over 400 people filled up the fourth floor of the Student Union on Friday, November 15 for ASA’s wedding event full of music and movement.
The event was organized by the African Student Associations from UMKC, KU and MSU.
“We are putting ASA on the map throughout all of Missouri through our collaborations,” said Josephine Sebunyenzi, ASA president and senior studying chemistry. “We hope to bring that connection and bond closer to Africans within our state, but also just within the city. We never know who’s right in our neighborhood.”
The event ran from 6 to 11 p.m. and included performances from KU singers, dance groups and UMKC’s Afrofuse, an Afro-fusion dance group.
“As a dancer it’s been stressful, relying on people in audio and making sure I know my place and engaging in the crowd,” said Liberty Calhoun, Afrofuse dancer and sophomore pre-nursing student. “That’s a big thing that we have to stress, but I’m very happy to be here surrounded by my community.”
Attendees were surrounded by multitudes of different cultures, vibrant African clothing and adornments of every color.
The wedding boasted a lively environment, with multiple performances from Afrofuse. One of the dance team members was also the bride for the wedding.
“It was hard because we were in a time crunch and we had to stick to the program,” said Albertine Byemba, a junior studying biomedical engineering.
Byemba had to balance the many roles that she held during the event.
“We had to run around, get into different outfits, and also remember all the dances,” said Byemba. “That was really challenging, but with an amazing team everything runs smoother.”
The wedding showcased a gorgeous display of outfits and culture, with traditional aspects of many African weddings, such as a fake bride coming in before the “real” one.
“This event is way deeper than just a fake wedding, it is a depiction of what true African culture is like,” said Byemba. “It allows others to get to experience it through food and music.”
Attendees learned a lot about African culture during the event, whether they were Africans or not.
“I’m West African, but today I learned things that I didn’t know even though I’m from there,” said Victor Sewankambo, a junior studying criminal justice. “It’s good to see people happy partaking and enjoying this event.”
The event required intense planning. As the president and a dancer in Afrofuse, Sebunyunzi had to juggle a lot during the planning process and said she relied on her team.
“Asking for help was the hardest thing for me, but I realized I could not have done this wedding by myself,” said Sebunyunzi.
One of ASA’s goals in hosting this wedding was to educate people in the school, city and state on the many different rich cultures of Africa represented in Missouri’s student bodies.
“ASA is not just a place for Africans or people who identify as African, it’s a place for people to get educated on what it’s like to grow up in America as an African and to give more information on being part of an organization showcasing the culture,” said Sebunyunzi.
For more information on ASA at UMKC, click here.
