African Youth League Holds Annual African Night - The Renaissance

Participants of the “Flag Walk” holding their flag on stage.

Credit: Chantal Brown

By: Courtney Gwanzura

African Youth League hosted its annual event to celebrate the culture and history of Africa.  

The event held on Oct. 22 was themed the “African Renaissance” to represent the growth of the organization following the height of the pandemic. The three-hour-long show featured student and faculty speakers and performers. It was also hosted by social media influencer Ini Cash.

Suzanne Mchao, a fourth-year in political science and the president of AYL said the African Renaissance theme helps them welcome a new age.

“But essentially the point I’m trying to make here is, we’re rebuilding, we’re rebranding, we’re moving forward. And with the African renaissance, we are welcoming a new age. We are celebrating another year of AYL, standing tall and firm. Let’s all take a moment to breathe in and breathe out and enjoy the show. Thank you guys for coming,” Mchao said.

With over 200 attendees, Mchao said this year’s event was a great success. The event featured several highlights such as a Flag Walk of African and Caribbean nationalities, musical performances, spoken word, dance teams, and a fashion show showcasing traditional African attire. 

Mchao explained that African Night has been held many years in the past, but this year's theme was especially sentimental. Overcoming many challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mchao and her colleagues wanted to show a theme that represented a new era. 

Attendees, like Halima Hassan, a third-year in dental hygiene, said they were especially pleased with the outcome of the event. She expressed that having the opportunity to dress in traditional attire was empowering. 

“Organizations such as AYL allow for inclusion on campus because there’s not a lot of people that look like us.  Ohio State is the third largest university in America with students from all around the world. Having an organization that wants to provide such an experience is a privilege I hope everyone can appreciate and recognize” Hassan said. 

Mchao expressed that AYL is a safe space for a lot of students. It allows people of African descent to come together and feel a sense of community on campus. African Night is an event open to anyone in the community who wants to come to celebrate or learn about the African diaspora.