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2011-2012 yearbook

first edition

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Hello ASA Family!

First and foremost, I would like to say that it was a pleasure serving as your presi-dent this past academic year. From the moment that I arrived at Columbia, ASAhas played a very integral part of my experience, and has provided me with a fam-ily away from home--without which, I honestly believe my experience here at Co-lumbia would have been vastly different! It makes my heart swell with pride to seehow much ASA has grown in my time here at Columbia, from our expansion of

Afropolitan to our increased political footprint on campus. I have always believedthat we have a duty to be ambassadors of the African experience (which is unique

to each of us) here on Columbia's campus. From those of us who were raised outhere in the Diaspora, to those who were born and raised in Africa, we all have a re-sponsibility to show people that there is and abundance of beauty and splendor to

Africa, and that there is more to it than the images and sound bites of poverty anddestitution that prevail in the media. I believe that we did a great job of trying to doso this year, and I am so excited to see where the new board takes us this year. Iwill always look back on my years serving on the ASA e-board, and specifically mytime as president, fondly. I look forward to being a very enthusiastic g-body mem-ber this year, and planning Afropolitan. I can't wait to build more memories with the

ASA family and to get to know all of our new members during my last year at Co-lumbia!

All the Best,

Iffy Akwule

Columbia College 2013

President 2011-2012

A Message From The President.

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To my fellow ASA'ers,

It has been a pleasure serving as your Vice President this past aca-demic year. ASA has always been my family away from home and I hope thatthrough our events, you have been able to feel that same love. From our"bumper to bumper" parties to insightful political roundtables, I hope that oure-board has been able to create memories that you will never forget. Enjoythe yearbook and I hope to see you all soon!

1 Love,

Michele Acheampong

Columbia College 2013

Vice president 2011-2012

A Message From The Vice President.

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Board

Out with the old!

Executive

Michele Acheampong CC 2013

Vice President

Uju Ofoche, CC 2013Campus Liaison

Richard Nwaobasi, SEAS 2012Web Master

Miriam Kwarteng-Siaw, CC 2014Secretary

Ifeoma Akwule, CC 2013President

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In with the

new!

Kambi Gathesha GS 2013Political Chair

Lauretta Ambe, CC 2014Historian

Afua Ataa Bampoh, CC 2014Treasurer

Jake Bediako, CC 2014Social Chair

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REPRESENTATIVES

Hamed Adeyemi, CC 2015Frshman Representative

Aniekeme Umoh, SEAS 2015Freshman Representative

FRESHMANRESHMAN

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Freshman Meeting

We kicked off the Semester with our first big even, The Freshman Kickback

where all first years get a chance to experience the best of ASA with great food, fun

activities, and mingling. The event was well attended and hosted by the 2010/2011

Freshman reps, Miriam Kwarteng-Siaw and Lauretta Ambe.

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A few members joined in the annual parade, held on October 8, 2011,

which celebrated Nigerias 51st year of independence from the United King-

dom.. The celebration commenced on East 54th Street and Second Avenue in

Manhattan, and proceeded to Nigeria House on 44th Street and Second Ave-

nue. Attendees were entertained with a procession of floats blasting Nigerian

music and proudly parading green and white and were treated to delicious

Nigerian and west African delicacies.

NIGERIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

PARADE OCTOBER 8, 2011

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The Semester was kicked off to a great start with our 3rd annual Afropolitan Cultural show. This year

boasted not only the highest attendance but also the highest revenue to date. Moderated by the ever

vivacious Abdallah Diagne, attendees were treated to great performances from student groups including

Onyx, Raw Elementz, Orisha, CU Belly Dance, CU Gospel Choir, and to delicious food catered by Papaye

Ghanaian Restaurant. A few highlights of the show included an amazing tap piece performance by our very

own Efe Kakpovbia and a piano and vocal performance by Akornefa Akyea as well as a tribute to Malian

Afro-Pop singer, Salif Keita, performed my Melaku Assegued and backup dancers choreographed by Efe

Kakpovbia. The audience was also treated to a skit titled, Sankofa: You Either Run From It Or Learn

From It, written and directed by Dapo Atitebi. Always a hit, this years fashion show did not disappoint with

fashions designed and created by Mbaba and models coached by Lindsey Hastings-Spaine.

COMING TO AFRICAFIRDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

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RAW

ELEMENT

Z

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SANKOFA:

You Either Run From ItOr Learn

From It

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CU Belly dance

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Efe Kakpovbia

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Salif KeitaTribute/AkornefaAkyea

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We continued the semester strong hosting our first of two

Political Round Table events of the year. We had special

guest speaker and PhD candidate, Abdi Ega , spoke on his

view point and experiences with pursuing African studies

at Columbia University as well as the availability ofcourses and resources making such a pursuit possible.

The meeting was moderated by political chair, Kambi

Gatheshda.

Political Roundtable:

African Studies at Columbia

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Partnering with fellow student

group, Muslim Students Association,

the ASA hosted a dawn to dusk fast-a-

thon which culminated in a banquet

and showcase in order to raise funds

for famine beaten East Africa. Theeveningsperformancesincludedlo-

cal acts from the Harlem area, student

performers, and a stunning highlight

performance by the soul/hip-hip duo,

the ReMINDers.

MSA/ASA

Fast-a-thon

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What welcomes the Holiday season better

than FOOD? Members of the ASA treated

the Columbia neighborhood to African

cuisine in our annual African Thanks giv-

ing dinner. Dishes were featured from all

across Africa; Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya,

Nigeria, and South Africa to name a few.

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SPOTTED!

ASAers

Hard at work...

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SPOTTED!

ASAers

Hard at work...

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ASA members and friends alike

stormed the Columbia Campus in

droves, donning traditional African

wear. One word described the whole

event...SWAG

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Moderated by Kambi

Gathesha, our second Po-

litical round table was a

grand success, not only for

ASA, but for the Columbia

community as a whole. Co-

lumbia president Lee

Bollinger presented the

keynote speech on the

state of affirmative action

in the educational system

anditsrelevancetoday.

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Once again the x-Lounge was filed

to the brim with unbridled talent.

ASA members and friends came to

showcase their dancing, singing,

acting, and instrumental skills at

the Milo Coffee House. We werepleased to see many new and old

faces come out and enjoy them-

selves during this always popular

event.

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senior send-off party

Ever a bitter-sweet affair, The ASA family joined together one final

time to send off our ASA seniors into the world. Though saddening

indeed to let go of such a special group of people, the pain was

eased by the vast amounts of delicious food and music!

Best of luck to you all seniors!

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It is with great enthusiasm that I compose this message for the Afri-can Students Association's first ever yearbook, an excellent documentationof the organizations events during the year 2011/2012. As the secretary ofthe ASA this past year, I was able to witness the difficulties that were some-times encountered in the planning of our weekly meetings and events. Buteven more important was the privilege I had to see the fruits of our effortsshow in the success of the events throughout the year and the appreciationexpressed by ASA members and guests in attendance. It was a year in whichthe ASA left a strong footprint on campus, from starting the year off with thebest Afropolitan Cultural Showcase yet to leaving with a bang with the politi-

cal roundtable on Affirmative Action. I am glad that all these wonderful, intel-lectually enriching and fun events have been documented for us, the current

ASA body and future ASA members.

I also look forward to serving the ASA as the president this year. Withthe assistance and support of the rest of the E-board and the general ASAbody, I hope to carry on this legacy that has been documented here. To con-tinue providing a welcoming and open environment for discussions and to

continue to foster the growth of the ASA as a family.Stay blessed!Miriam Kwarteng-Siaw

Columbia College 2014President 2012/2013Secretary 2011/2012

A Message From The Incoming President.

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Welcome to a vibrant community forever teeming with ideas and itch-

ing to move to the music that is the African Students Association! Going intomy last year at Columbia, the ASA has been a big part of my growth processwhile here. It has given me a family to rely on for support and an opportunityto engage in rich intellectual dialogue about the continent and its offspringthat has truly enriched my worldview as a human, as an intellectual, and asand African.

ASA is a resource for learning and sharing what you know about Af-rica. It is also a pristine source of Monday night entertainment; a great wayto ease up the pressure of the newly started week! Whether you suspect thatyou have familial ties to the continent, have seen the Lion King, or are just

plain curious about what has been an enigma in world socio-political andeconomic history for the last 50 years or so, the ASA is open to one and all.Join us this year as we grow the organization and give it a bigger voice onthe Columbia campus, from our annual cultural showcase, Afropolitan, to ourweekly Monday night meetings and our legendary parties, as well as our ef-forts to becoming more of a professional networking resource for any and allinterested in investing time and skills in, dare I say it, the worlds most beau-tiful continent.

I look forward to meeting you all, students, alumni, friends of Africa,and I end this message not with a goodbye, but with a welcome in my na-tive language, in the hopes that we shall meet sooner rather than later:

Akwaaba

Cheers,Adwoa N. BanfulColumbia College 2013Vice President 2012-2013

A Message From The Incoming Vice President.

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In the spirit of this years Olympic games, I will use a sports analogy todescribe the creation of this yearbook. It truly was a difficult race. Yet, it wasone of the most worthwhile marathons Ive had to conquer. With no precedent tofollow as a guide on how to make a yearbook, I undertook this project essen-tially blindly. Many times I was tempted to just give up-- restarting from scratchafter your computer dies, taking your lifes work with it to the grave is no easyfeat! However, with the wealth of growth and achievements I witnessed with thisyears committed e-board and passionate g-body, there was no way I couldwatch the year go by without documenting its rich memories in this yearbook; abook to which we can all look back one day with fond memories, and from

which future ASAers can look for guidance and inspiration.

It truly has been a great year and I will fondly remember the good timeswe had together as an ASA family. Thank you for the opportunity to serve asyour historian this year. I sincerely enjoyed the time spent serving my position.To all who assisted with the creation of this yearbook, taking pictures, answer-ing my questions about the details of past events I may have forgotten, or evengiving me that nudge during the process. It was truly an exhilarating and ardu-ous process, but I believe both ASA and I will be made better by it. With this, Ihand off the torch to the next line of ASA historians, hoping that this light con-tinues to burn, leaving behind lasting records of the ASAs memories, achieve-ments, continued growth and evolution. I am truly proud of what ASA has grownto be and I treasure what it has come to represent on Columbias campus. I

hope ASA will be as dear to the hearts of future ASAers as it has and alwayswill be in mine.

A Message From The Editor/Historian.