Featured Photo by Jasmine Banks
Story by Jasmine Banks
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On April 5, the African Student Organization—an international organization highlighting 54 countries—hosted Middle Tennessee State University’s first Fake African Wedding in the Tom Jackson Building.
The event displayed and celebrated Africa’s rich and diverse culture and traditional weddings. Members of ASO introduced this tradition on campus so people of all backgrounds could learn and experience the food, music and clothing of an African wedding.
“This wedding shows how different people from East Africa, South Africa and all over can come together and just have fun together and show our different dances and food that we have,” ASO social media coordinator Esther Nsougan said.
The wedding incorporated most of the same elements as traditional African weddings, such as the money spray and crossing the sticks. These two rituals symbolize the couple’s good fortune and a strong new life. Like traditional African weddings, there was dancing throughout the ceremony instead of during the reception.
The organization has been planning the wedding through many semesters, explains ASO president Kadiatu Gassama.
“The thing I hope people take away is that we are a very educational organization, and we always come together as one. We wanted to put something fun together to showcase that so people can know what goes on at a traditional wedding. Most Americans have not been able to experience that, so we wanted to bring that to MTSU. I hope people will be with our culture, be with our food and just see what it is like to be an African student,” said Kadiatu Gassama.
The wedding’s bridesmaids and groomsmen entered by dancing as they would for a real wedding. Several MTSU students came to show support and to celebrate as guests would in Africa.
“At a traditional African wedding, the bride and groom receive blessings and are sprayed with money. It is the same thing as an American wedding, but we tend to do it bigger,” said Brima Gassama, ASO’s social media manager.
The organization has held several cultural and educational events on campus to promote African heritage and unity with African and non-African students. Students interested in joining can send a membership request through MyMT.
Jasmine Banks is a contributing writer for MTSU Sidelines.
To contact Lifestyles Editor Destiny Mizell and Assistant Lifestyles Editor Shamani Salahuddin, email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com.
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