`Africa-Fest' kicks off at Houston Hall

The breeze has turned warm, hordes of scantily clad, sun-loving students now flock to the College Green and a celebration is kicking off. "Africa-Fest" begins this week, organized by the Penn African Student Association and promoting African culture. Last night, a talk by Kenyan professor Ali Mazrui, entitled "Africa's Triple Heritage: Indigenous, Islamic and Western" started the week's festivities. "My biggest teacher was my own life," said Mazrui to an ethnically diverse audience of about 60 people in Houston Hall. "I was part of the 'triple heritage.'" Mazrui, a faculty member of both the University of Nigeria and Cornell University, is an expert on the diversity of cultures and religions spanning the world's African community. He spoke on triple heritage being "the convergence of three African civilizations." "Sons in Africa and in the Muslim world respect their mothers more than sons in the West. But husbands in Africa and in the Muslim world respect their wives less than those in the West --whatever Bill Clinton might have done," joked Mazrui, speaking about the different heritages. The professor discussed the need to merge the best elements from the Islamic, African and Western cultures together and synthesize a unique and vibrant African identity. But not everyone agreed with Mazrui's views. "Ideologically, I was opposed to him," Temple University Professor Emeka Nwadiora said. "I think he's an apologist for Western culture, but, aesthetically speaking, he made a good presentation." Mazrui also showed a clip of a documentary series he produced called "Global Africa," which has aired on BBC and PBS. Audience members asked Mazrui about various issues in a question and answer session, where he addressed everything from his views on the development of an African Union to his thoughts on his own identity. Those who attended commended Africa-Fest on its opening event. "It should be fun," said PASA Freshmen Liaison Andy Kumahor, an Engineering junior. "I guess it's something we need to do, in terms of promoting African Awareness." Baker Kiggundu, the president of PASA and a College senior, agreed. "We get the chance to showcase African culture and organize intellectual discussions like today's," Kiggundu said. "There's a lot the continent has to teach us." Africa-Fest boasts a full week of activities, including an African Film Festival, a charity dinner and a Cultural Night with performing arts groups and a fashion show.