Harriman Hall on South Campus was transformed into UB's own slice of Africa Saturday night, as about 100 students packed the hall for the African Student Association's annual Jambo cultural dinner and pageant.
Combining African pride and talent, each contestant from African SA represented the country of his or her choice to compete for the title of Mr. and Mrs. Jambo 2004.
According to African SA Secretary Mary Ademola, the word Jambo means "welcome," a perfect fit for the warm atmosphere of the event.
Before the pageant, dinner was served in the style of several African cultural groups. While attendees got to chow down on jerked chicken and fried plantains, African music - ranging from hip hop to harmonized vocal pieces - filled the room. Prior to the pageant, the Indian SA performed a traditional and colorful Bhangra dance.
When all was said and done, Jalilah Kanniez, a senior English major, and Abdirahman Sugal, a sophomore history major, walked away Mr. and Mrs. Jambo 2004, which was judged by two volunteer professors from the African Studies Department.
To start the evening, the doors to the show opened late, but that didn't seem to faze Jambo's organizers.
"We're running on African time, and if you don't know what that is, it means late," joked African SA president Rochelle Thangalan.
Students Abraham Robinson, a senior psychology and communication major, and Jamil Crews, a senior music business and African American studies major, served as the show's hosts. The two traded jokes, anecdotes, and kept the audience entertained in-between acts.
Throughout the night, they gave a series of "You might be from Ghana if..." and "You might be from Nigeria if..." jokes.
"You might be from Nigeria," said Crews, "if your name is so long that you have to use an American nickname."
After the performance by Indian SA, the Jambo contestants were introduced, taking the stage to their country's national anthem. Once on stage, contestants gave a bit of information about themselves, and an almanac-style introduction to their country.
Many contestants were actually from the countries they chose to represent.
Joyce Eleda, a freshman undecided major representing South Africa, described the origins of her name and spoke about the political situation in her country.
Jalilah Kanniez, who later won "Mrs. Jambo," represented Ghana and chose to speak about its languages and the origins of the slave trade.
Several members of the crowd were ecstatic with Kanniez's presentation.
"I see we have the Ghana cheerleaders in the middle there," said Crews, looking out over the audience.
After the contestants were introduced, the talent portion of the show began.
Afeez Alaka, a freshman medical technology major representing Liberia, played a large hand drum, using the fingers of his left hand to vary the drum tones with pressure while quickly playing with his right.
Sugal, the winner of "Mr. Jambo," read a poem he wrote about his mother that expressed his gratitude to her for bringing him to America and a promise to make her proud. Some of his relatives died in the civil war in Somalia, he said.
Co-winner Kanniez performed a traditional dance to the music of two men playing hand drums.
Between the talent portion of Jambo and its conclusion, two African SA members performed a traditional song with hand drummer accompaniment.
The final part of the Jambo contest was called "Evening Wear and Questions." Contestants, dressed in their finest, had to answer questions pulled out of a bag, as happens in beauty pageants.
These questions, however, were far from easy.
Liberia's Alaka pulled a question out of the bag.
"Do you think African's dependence on foreign aide is necessary? Why or why not?"
Alaka said since Africa is rich in resources, it should not need foreign aide in the future. The problem, he said, lies in internal violence and political corruption.
Oluseun Joshua, a history major, received the question, "Are you glad to be a black person? What does it mean to be black?"
Joshua replied that he was glad to be black.
"You have to be strong minded and strong willed," he said.
After Joshua gave his response, emcee Robinson nodded.
"My thoughts exactly," he said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
