UW-Milwaukee Fashion Show to Showcase Various African Cultures

There is one place at UWM where students from all over Africa can come together to meet with other students just like them. The African Student Association welcomes members from various African countries each week. Ngozi Osademe is one such student.

“I joined ASA because I thought it was the way to connect with people from my culture,” said Osademe.

Osademe was born in Nigeria and lived there for nine years before moving to Milwaukee.  Osademe and her sisters have since adjusted to living in the U.S., but remain proud of their culture. She wasn’t the only person at the ASA meeting with such a story. Moranu, Mo to those who know him, Adeniyi is also a Nigerian who moved to Milwaukee at a young age. He walked into the rehearsal wearing a black pullover featuring the white shadow of Africa.

“It’s east Africans and West Africans in one place,” said Adeniyi about their upcoming show. “That doesn’t happen very often.”

The ASA met this Wednesday in the Union to finalize plans for its multi-cultural fashion show. The show, to be held on Tuesday, April 26 at 7 p.m., will feature clothing from different parts of Africa.

There will also be a dancing group, a DJ who specializes in authentic African music and personal interviews from each person walking the runway.

Walking into the ASA meeting, one thing was clear. There were many more different types of “African” than most people realize.

About 20-25 people showed up, all with varying skin tones, hair types and accents. Some girls had their hair wrapped in decorative scarves while others wore long braids. ASA features a large group of members from all different parts of Africa. People from Kenya, Somalia and Nigeria all come together to show their pride of their country. Many members moved to America from Africa at a very young age and are looking to connect with people similar to themselves.

The variety of African cultures present at the meeting was apparent through the clothing each member brought. Vibrant shirts and pants in bold shades of purples, blues, oranges and greens were passed around the room-all featuring ornate patterning and design. Many of the members brought the clothes from home. ASA president, Miela Fetaw, had the final say on outfit choices. She worked the room, moving from group-to-group, to discuss each outfit.

Ngozi Osademe will be wearing a print jacket her mother made with material from Nigeria and, possibly, the matching pants that go with it.

“My mom kept on telling me this print was getting very popular there,” said Osademe, laughing.

After each ASA member verified their outfit choice, runway practice for the show began. Each person and each group took their turn practicing when and where to stop and how to pose. The fashion show is planned to be a family affair. Osademe’s nieces are planning to walk in the show with her and many other members have involved siblings. All of the family members will be wearing similar outfits from their country during the show.

“That will actually be really adorable,” said Fetaw, ASA president.

While runway practice was happening in one room, perhaps the most interesting aspect that will happen during the show was being rehearsed next door. Each person walking in the show will have a personal interview discussing his or her own personal experience in Africa. A camera was set up in the adjacent room to record each person’s interview. Osademe talked about the stereotypes associated with people from Africa in a lighthearted way.

“Like, some people think we don’t have toilets in Africa,” said Osademe. “Africa is not that different from the U.S.”

Throughout all of these aspects of the show, Fetaw was like a one-woman brigade, finalizing and planning every small detail. Running back and forth from one room to another, she ran interviews and helped conduct the runway practice.

The atmosphere was lighthearted and welcoming. All of the ASA members were truly like a close group of friends as they joked and danced during rehearsals. They welcome each other in their native tongues.

“Comment ça-va?” said Adeniyi as he greeted another member.

He welcomed him with a warm embrace. Despite the fact that the members are all from different parts of Africa, they are all proud to be representing their homeland and different cultures.

The ASA event will be held in the Union, free of charge. The doors will open early at 6:30 p.m.