MSU African Student Association to welcome Bozeman community for cultural event

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State University is gearing up for a cultural celebration this weekend, thanks to the efforts of its African Student Association, which is hosting African Cultural Night this Sunday in an effort to showcase various cultures. 

"We'll be having culture galore. Dancing, food. We have a drama lined up as well. And of course, we have our famous band that we have every year," said Melisa Carter, with the ASA. 

The association is eager to bring back their cultural night, aiming to share it with Bozeman residents. The evening will feature music, dancing and food from various African countries to promote cultural exchange, as well as a fashion show. Lots of effort has gone into rehearsals to put the event together. 

"We just hope that at the end, the proof is in the pudding, right?" Carter said. 

Bello Yunusa, also from the association, expressed the event's purpose. 

"This is just to share our African traditional culture with the entire, you know, American society or community or maybe that's Bozeman," he said. 

Yunusa said attendants who are not part of the African community are also encouraged to dress up. 

Both Yunusa and Carter, hailing from Nigeria and South Africa, have found the move to Montana to be an adjustment but Bozeman has been a welcoming community. However, they do still sometimes encounter misconceptions about where they are from. 

Carter said she recently had an Uber driver ask her if lions come into her town in South Africa and she clarified they do not. 

"It's just little things like that. And this is one of the nights where people can actually come out and really see whatever they have been unsure about, maybe," she said. 

Both said they are very proud to be able to bring their customs to the stage in Bozeman and share their practices and what is important to them. 

"It's just showing off Africa," Carter said. "It gives me so much pride to even wear this, you know?" she said, gesturing to her head scarf. 

The cultural night will take place from 5-7 p.m. this Sunday, and it is free and open to the public.