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University of Windsor publishing students held a press conference in preparation for the launch of three books in April.
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Although the Lancer men’s hockey team fell to Guelph, they will go on to host McGill in a bronze medal game.
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A talented percussionist came to the University of Windsor’s Lambton Tower to share her music with UWindsor students.
The Windsor Spitfires are fading fast in the race for a final playoff position.
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YOUR C AMPUS AND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER // MARCH 5 2015 // VOL. #87 ISSUE #23 // UWINDSORLANCE.C A
Following 10-Year Milestone, Diaspora Becomes Campus Staple HANIYASSINE Arts Editor __________________________ It was a festival which emerged from humble beginnings. Roughly 10 years ago, Camesha Cox found herself missing class and ramping up her cell phone bill in order to attend meetings and write numerous grant proposals. All of this to establish a celebration of black history and culture. No was never taken for an answer. “I was really adamant in getting the festival to be part of the UWSA,” Cox said. “Whenever it comes to something new, there’s going to be a push back.” The something new has become the something established. This year’s Afrofest at the CAW Centre celebrated its 10-year anniversary. It continues to be the celebration of African and Afro-American culture and achievements for one week during black history month. Each day had a social, cultural, or artistic theme which brought numerous amounts of talent on a local, provincial and international front to an audience at UWindsor. But even though the event is technically the celebration of one culture, head coordinator Zainab Ikpong said it’s an event for everyone. “I feel that people assume that we put on events like this, it’s just for people among our culture. This is a festival for the entire student body,” Ikpong said. Having the event at the CAW Centre allowed students to see the panel discussions, musical acts and the diaspora marketplace in passing. “I really haven’t had time to see anything. Between assignments and mid-terms there’s not a lot of free
Artist Komi Olafimihan does a live painting performance at the CAW Centre Feb. 25 during the Afrofest celebration. [Photo by // Hani Yassine] time,” said engineering student Stefan Sing. Small audiences however did not stop the event from its upbeat performances and educational culture. Concluding its tenth year, there’s little room to suggest it won’t be back for another. As the years progress, Afrofest has gradually established itself as one of the university’s essential events. It’s a cultural celebration within a multicultural campus, which is the kind of underlying theme Ikpong wishes to express. “I just want to make sure that every body of every race knows that they’re welcome to celebrate black history with us,” Ikpong said. “I want people to feel a sense of unity.”
African heritage drummers take the stage during an afternoon of Afrofest celebrations at the CAW Centre Feb. 25. [Photo by // Hani Yassine]