Student group promotes African cultural awareness

09/22/09 - "The more we know about each other, the better we will be," Maxwell Edmonds, Historian of the Student Alliance for the Welfare of Africa (S.A.W.A.), said. Based on cultural and artistic events, S.A.W.A. is a student organization dedicated to giving Africa a better reputation.With the club only a year old, president Samuel D. Aboh Jr. has already lead the club to expose the full African experience to the University of Rhode Island's campus. Club Member Nora Mends said the club "brings awareness [of the continent] to everyone in the school.

S.A.W.A. is a student organization dedicated to giving Africa a better reputation through cultural and artistic events.

"The more we know about each other, the better we will be," Maxwell Edmonds said, Historian of the Student Alliance for the Welfare of Africa (S.A.W.A.).

President Samuel D. Aboh Jr. has lead the year-old club to expose the full African experience to the University of Rhode Island campus.

"The club brings awareness [of the continent] to everyone in the school," sophomore Nora Mends said.

The mission statement of S.A.W.A. is to bring a positive light to the subject of Africa to benefit URI and the nearby community, according to the club's Web site.

It also states the goal of the club is to increase students' understanding and awareness of the several heritages and cultures native of Africa.

"We respond to who wants to hear about Africa," Aboh. said. "We want to promote the unity of the African population on campus.

Aboh started the group because he wanted the African population of URI to "be proud of their culture and where they came from."

"It's a beautiful place," Aboh said.

A Taste of Africa, one of several events S.A.W.A. hosts during URI's Diversity Week, is a fun way the group reaches out to the community. During this event, the club hires a chef and sells African food for $10.

The club also plans to host "Gitahi's Own," a sculpture exhibit displaying the work of local artist Gitahi Gititi.

S.A.W.A. is also hosting "Lights for Africa," an event in which 200 students will receive small hot-air balloons to simultaneously release on the URI Quadrangle.

"Indeed, this is an African organization but as per our 'I am African'campaign, we are all African, be ye black, white, yellow or green" Aboh said. "You do not have to be born of the continent to join ourorganization. Our diversity is what makes us strong."

S.A.W.A. is engaged in several year-round programs used to eradicate the fallacies about Africa. During the spring semester, the organization places "I am African" and "Blood on our Hands" posters in the Memorial Union as visual public service announcements.

In February, S.A.W.A. will be hosting a hair show event. This year's show will feature seven models who will be dressed to fit the theme, "The Seven Deadly Sins."

The club will be hosting its annual "Africa Week" during the first week of April. During this time, the organization hosts many events including a free kickball and soccer tournament, an African fashion show, an African concert and a nightly movie screening.

According to Edmonds, the profits generated by the events will allow the club to host future events.

"I think the club is a huge success, mainly for the members" Aboh said. "Everyone brings and idea and we say 'ok, let's make it happen'."

Aboh promotes leadership skills among his club members to prepare them for life after college.

"I want to give everyone a chance to take charge," Aboh said.

He said that if he stands in front of the club and speaks every week, the meetings become boring. At the end of each meeting, a club member's name is chosen from a box; the chosen person is then expected to "run the show" for the following meeting.

S.A.W.A. holds their meetings every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in room 318 of the union.