Celebrating World Cuisine and Culture
Sampling the cuisine. (Photo by Yuki Phan ’14)
Rafiki wa Afrika—an organization dedicated to promoting diversity and awareness about African-Caribbean culture—presented their annual Mini Fest for members of the Ohio Wesleyan and Delaware communities.
“The Mini Fest is our opportunity to bring a taste of Africa to the student population of Ohio Wesleyan,” says Osominomo Garba ’16, the festival’s organizer. And there was much to savor.
The African cuisine was, for many, the main attraction.This year Rafiki wa Afrika went all out in arranging many delicacies for everyone to enjoy: jollof rice (a traditional African dish), Caribbean spiced beef patties, plantains, fish, chicken, and a very special African steamed bean pudding called moi moi.
Due to rain, the Mini Fest was relocated to the basement of Stuyvesant Hall (more commonly known as ‘The Cave.’) Although the weather was gloomy, the festival was warm with laughter and joy. Poetry readings and African-Caribbean dance performances added to the festivities and authenticity of African traditions. But the organization is about more than all of this.
Rafiki wa Afrika raises funds for the Ghana Student Education Fund, formed in 2007 by two Ohio Wesleyan alumni. The fund provides money for books, school supplies, uniforms and tuition for Ghanaian students in need. Rafiki Wa Afrika holds numerous discussions to promote awareness and fundraising events similar to the Global Outreach show held earlier this year and this year’s Mini Fest. Events such as these are what make Ohio Wesleyan unique–truly the opposite of ordinary.