At Africa Day, speakers discuss African culture

For those seeking to educate themselves about Africa's problems, traditions and culture, Saturday was the day to learn. Africa Day, organized by the Penn African Students Association, began with a reception in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, followed by a discussion panel with Wande Abimbola, a chancellor at a Nigerian university, and Kwaku Ohene-Frempong, associate professor of pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The two men spoke on a wide variety of issues, ranging from traditional African medicine to the continent's political climate. Ohene-Frempong commented on the importance of African students acquiring skills useful in helping alleviate problems in Africa. "What we study here [in the United States] must have relevance," he said. "Relevance means its use in Africa." Abimbola spoke on the exodus of skilled individuals from the African continent. "Brain drain is a major problem," he added. "We need an international fund to deal with this brain drain." Both speakers also commented on the unstable political situation in many African countries. They agreed that the use of Western governmental structures was an important source of the continent's political instability. "At the very heart of the instability of African political systems is the imposition of alien forms of government on Africa," Abimbola said. "Western forms are not the only forms of democracy." Ohene-Frempong agreed. "Until we have ingrained elements of the traditional system into the modern political system, we will never succeed," he added. In addition to the discussion panel, a trade fair was held on Locust Walk where vendors sold jewelry, clothing, paintings, statues and books on African and African-American subjects. The festivities continued into the evening as well, when a cultural and fashion show was staged at Drexel University's Stein Auditorium. The show began with an appearance by The Inspiration, an a cappella group, which sang "Homeless," by Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The concert was followed by a special performance of the Gumboot Dance, a form of dancing which includes stamping feet and tapping hands on legs. The day's events also included an African Drum and Dance Workshop and a screening of the Zimbabwan film Jit. PASA President and Wharton and College senior Hany Abdullah said the day was intended to educate the University community about the African continent. "I think the first goal is to have an occasion to air our culture and celebrate where we're from," she added. "The key is to educate because there are a lot of stereotypes."