The African Students Association (ASA) showcased the culture of the African continent at its 13th annual fashion show Friday night in the Danforth University Center’s Tisch Commons. Founded in 2005, ASA’s purpose is to educate the Washington University community and the St. Louis community about the breadth of culture found in Africa.

Beth Wiesinger | Student Life

Washington University students model clothing from different regions of Africa in the African Students Association’s 13th annual fashion show in Tisch Commons. This year’s fashion show, “Jivunie: Rich in Culture,” consisted of five walks and four performances that showcased African culture.

This year’s fashion show was titled “Jivunie: Rich in Culture.” Jivunie is Swahili for pride, and was a perfect title for this year’s event. The show’s emcees, senior Wumi Adekunle and junior Chibueze Agwu, introduced each walk and segment of the show, as Professor El Hadji Diallo, husband to faculty advisor Dean Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo, DJed the event.

The show consisted of five walks and four performances of artistic expression. The first walk showcased the flags of African countries represented by students on Wash.U.’s campus: Algeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan and Togo. The next three walks were clothing walks featuring modern, traditional, formal and casual clothing, highlighting designs from different regions in Africa. The final walk showcased looks designed by Gamu with jewelry by Patrice Hill.

The first walk concluded and the audience was graced with a stunning performance by junior and soon-to-be three-time Vision’s Gospel Choir director Cherie-Ann Samuels. Samuels, whose parents are from the Diaspora, revealed how her lineage fostered a connection to the continent and was conveyed in her vocal performance of the Kenyan national anthem in English, followed by the South African national anthem in Swahili.

Walk number two featured looks from Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Togo and Ghana, exhibiting the traditional origins of African clothing. Each look was more beautiful than the next, with bright, bold colors. Following the walk, the Afriky Lolo Children’s Ensemble performed. A critically acclaimed West African dance group, the ensemble’s performance involving bowls and traditional African drumming was a beautiful and energetic display of the rich culture of Africa.

Afriky Lolo performed once more, after the third walk. One of their younger dancers performed, moving the crowd to shout in appreciation at her skill and stage presence. A group of older ensemble members followed in a fast-paced and complex number that left me, and I’m certain others, in the audience in awe and envious of their ability and talent.

The third walk, which preceded this second appearance, showed modern takes and twists on traditional outfits. Bright colors, again, were in abundance. Very pattern heavy, the models strutted down the runway in tops, shorts, blouses, mini skirts, pants and sun dresses. The performers and rich colors made for a stunning group of models who worked the crowd as their feet pounded the runway with attitude written all over their faces.

Beth Wiesinger | Student Life

Walk number four can only be described as high formal fashion. A modern, more formal play on the outfits seen in walk two, this walk showed looks that would be worn at weddings, proms and parties today. The ornamentation and detail work on the clothing was phenomenal and the colors were deep. Every one of the models looked like African royalty, and with the confidence in their walks, you could tell that they felt it as well.

Before the final walk, ASA freshman representative Yohanes Mulat performed an original poem titled “This Land.” Overall, it was a beautiful piece harkening to the beauty of Africa and the intrinsic beauty that comes with having a love of your homeland, whether or not you’ve set foot on its soil. A member of WUSLam’s P-Crew, Mulat’s writing and performance were a beautiful reminder of what it means to love who you are and where you come from.

The fifth and final walk was my favorite. Designed by Gamu, each look coordinated with another one. In this walk, no model walked down the runway alone. With a stunning array of coordinated outfits with complimentary colors and matching patterns, the models strutted and posed in matching headwraps, inverted color schemes and pant-short combos that left me in awe and jumping out of my seat for every flawless look.

Well done, ASA. The beauty and culture you displayed in Tisch Commons was astounding, utterly moving and a perfect way to spend a Friday night.