Sankofa!: Progressing in The Future by Rediscovering The Past

The diverse University at Buffalo campus is a mini-melting pot. Celebrating diversity is a prime consideration at UB, some organizations focus on the preservation of their own culture's past and celebration of the present.

The preservation of African culture is major focus of the SANKOFA! Student Association, formerly known as UB African Dance Troupe. Last year the organization received a renaming and, in some ways, a rebirth.

"We wanted something more creative, a name that had more of an African background and meaning," said Shereefat Balogun, president of SANKOFA! SA. "Sankofa means going back to your past, so we named (the organization) SANKOFA! because we are expressing the history of African culture."

The current members of the SANKOFA! SA include four dancers, two drummers and an executive board staff.

According to Balogun, the organization's mission is to keep the African heritage alive in their audiences as well as in themselves, through expressionistic dance.

"The dances have different names and meanings," said Philana Owusu, a senior mechanical engineering major and vice president of SANKOFA! "Some of the dances are celebration dances, some of them are fertility dances; they all have meaning."

According to Balogun, the dances preformed can be fast or slow, depending on the mood of the story being told. But regardless of the disposition, all dances are done to live drumbeats.

"We get a lot of energy from the drummers and it gets the audience more excited than a dance preformed to a CD," said Balogun.

Due to a lack of funding, the organization can no longer afford to have a professional choreographer teach them the various dances and instead have to rely on the African American Cultural Center, in downtown Buffalo.

"On Thursdays I go and learn the dances there and then I teach them at practices," said Balogun.

The dancers practice every Friday and Saturday, and perform as often as they can. They've preformed everywhere from international celebrations to Bulls' games. In addition to performing at the events of on-campus organizations, they've performed at off-campus venues as well, including high schools around Buffalo.

Presently the organization is preparing for the first show that they will be officially hosting.

"Umoja: The Spirit of Togetherness" will be held in conjunction with the Black Student Union on Saturday at Harriman Hall. "(The show) aims to establish the connection between the African American, Latin American, the Caribbean and Africa," said Balogun. "We're using the aspect of dance to show the connection. The dances and music from those regions are heavily influenced by African culture."

SANKOFA! SA has invited a number of student organizations such as the Latin American Student Association, Haitian Student Association, Caribbean Student Association and the African Student Association as well as off-campus organizations, to take part in "Umoja."

"We're going to show how African culture influences all these groups," said Balogun. "Umoja means unity so we're bringing all the cultures together."

According to executive board members, the organization's first big event is in sync with the greater levels of recognition the organization has been receiving.

"What I've been hearing about SANKOFA! has changed," said Owusu. "We hear a lot of 'Oh they're good,' and 'I didn't know they had an African dance group on campus.' We're hearing more talk about it this year than I know I heard last year. The interest has been upped a few levels."

Balogun said the organization hopes to provide an equal amount of entertainment and education during "Umoja."

According to Owusu, providing education and continuous cultural ties is SANKOFA!'s yearlong concern.

"I'm glad that I am a part of this organization because it helps to bring African awareness to the UB campus," she said. "Many people of African descent might lose sight of the importance of their culture being away from home and family."

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m. The show will start at 6 p.m. and, according to Balogun, the audience can look forward to about two hours of excellent performances including cultural acts, fraternity strolls as well as modern dance performances.

Tickets for the event can be purchased from any SANKOFA! or BSU executive board member for $5. Tickets will also be on sale at the door for $7 with a UB card, and $8 for non-students.