A Diverse Celebration: A Recap of the Diversity Week Events
Photos by Shawn Marsh
Last week, NMMU set out to celebrate International Diversity Week on 2ndAvenue and South Campus.
This week-long celebration boasted cultural food days, live music and entertainment and plenty of fun.
The celebration was kicked off on Tuesday with a Study Abroad expo which informed students of NMMU of their possibilities in studying abroad whilst at NMMU. NMMU has established exchange agreements with various institutions throughout Europe, the UK, the USA, African and Asia.
A diversity of flavours was also available throughout the week with a Portuguese food day on Tuesday and Egyptian food day on Thursday, hosted by Rendezvous Cafe on South Campus. Armandt Landman, who attended the Portuguese food day, said, “I really enjoyed the food; it was delicious and unique. I hope they will do it more often!”
The Ethiopian restaurant, Happy Kongo, joined on Wednesday and brought with them a unique and memorable Ethiopian coffee ritual showcase as well as traditional Ethiopian foods for sale.
Friday saw the biggest festivity and ended the week-long celebration with a bang. The diversity of entertainment showcased live music from Port Elizabeth locals Well Done Sun and the Metro Melody a Cappella Group, a performance by Rhythm Junkies, a jive demonstrated by the Ballroom Society, Poetry by Mihle Mapoma, as well as a performance by magician and mentalist Brendon Peel. The Pharmacy students also showcased their delightfully unexpected culturally inspired fashion showcase. The day’s grand finale was an international cultural show by various countries, followed by Lord Harmony’s performance of “I am an African”.
Various food stalls were also on display during Friday’s festivities, with food from countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, France and many more being given out to taste. Ayenumelo Joseph, a second year mechanical engineering student who was operating at the Nigerian stand, said that the cultural food was a great way to make NMMU’s many international students feel at home. He added, “Diversity week was an excellent way for the many diverse students at NMMU to show off their cultures.”