ASAD celebrates royal heritage at annual fashion show

From one fashion show to the next—from one nation to another.

 

Liberty University’s Association of Students of African Descent (ASAD) hosted its annual Spring fashion show Saturday, April 14. With the theme “Royal Heritage,” the models and performers showcased what African kingship truly looks like.
ASAD president Angela Owusuaa sought to bring a vision to life: a vision of an Africa that represents more than poverty or little children suffering from malnutrition. This represents a common image that she says is all too familiar in America.

 

“We want to show you guys that Africa is a continent full of royalty and riches,” Owusuaa said. “There is more to our different cultures than what we usually see on TV.”

 

Toluwanimi Ogbonmide, vice president of ASAD, is a junior who has been a part of the club since his freshman year.

 

He talked about how the meaning and foundation of ASAD is bigger than the club itself.

He also brought to light how ASAD progressed both in its much-anticipated fashion show and as a club as a whole.

 

“We definitely improved on content, clothes, music and dance,” Ogbonmide said. “The show has also gained a bigger fan base, so that’s good.”

 

According to the vice president, Liberty alumni are always the first to get their tickets even before actual Liberty students, because they love to come and support the show.

 

The red carpet was lined with students, faculty, parents and friends all excited to see what ASAD would display this year.

 

The theme “Royal Heritage” was picked by ASAD’s executives, and it was essential to them and all the club members to convey the importance of positively transforming the way people view Africa and African people.

 

Male and female models dressed in a variety of styles representing different African countries. They navigated the stage with confidence and poise while the crowd cheered, snapped and applauded.

 

“We (African people) should not come to America and lose track of our culture or try to ‘blend in,’” Ogbonmide said. “You can adjust to your environment but don’t try to permanently blend in because you do have a real heritage.”

 

He also mentioned how the recent record-breaking Marvel movie, “Black Panther,” really helped the team relay excitement surrounding African heritage to the audience. The movie is based on a fictional African country called Wakanda where its citizens have no problem showcasing their African pride.

 

The show also had a number of performers including the Ntiboneras Band and the Fistone Band, both of whom danced and sang to popular African music.

 

ASAD also included a new segment in the fashion show, which was a skit performed by three of its club members.

 

Timothy Maduka, who played the African father in the skit, was the brains behind the act, according to Ogbonmide.

 

The audience responded with laughter, which let the club members know that they made the right move by including more content that involved audience interactions.

 

“(A skit) is probably something we’ll be doing every year now,” Ogbonmide said. “The crowd loved it, and that’s what I meant by ‘new content.’”

 

What is expected to come next for ASAD is a new executive board as some members are graduating, and cookouts, soccer games and movie nights during the fall and another spring fashion show in April 2019.