Your future, our focus
P O W E L L, W y o. - Three Northwest College students from the west African country of Senegal will relive a day in their homeland in "Senegal: Rhythms of Africa," a treat for the senses starting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, in Room 70 of the Fagerberg Building on campus.
Senegalese students El Hadji Fall, Cheikh Fame and Mamadou Diop will treat their audience to the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of their youth. Their program includes a script they've written and will act out, lots of photographs, music, poetry and even a food tasting opportunity.
"The Senegalese people are recognized the world over as very warm, friendly, happy and even ‘joyous' people," Harriet Wilson-Bloom NWC's international student recruiter and adviser, said. "They're very expressive people, and our three students certainly live up to the reputation of their countrymen. I guarantee that people who come to this event will be in for a lively evening."
The three actively participate in many of the opportunities available on a residential campus like Northwest. Fall is vice president of the Student Senate and a resident assistant in his hall. Fame works in the dining hall and Diop manages the basketball team. They are recognized across campus by students and faculty alike for their easy smiles and French accents.
These Senegalese tour guides will take their audience to market day in their country, show how meals are prepared and talk about day-to-day life at home. They'll share the entertainment that was popular when they left and discuss the many ways the Islamic religion permeates daily life.
Their skit includes dialogue spoken in English, French (the language taught in Senegalese schools) and Wolof (the language of the country's largest ethnic group). The recipe for the food tasting portion of the program was brought to Northwest by the students themselves. Bloom-Wilson said their Senegalese music might be more familiar than expected, since it's very popular throughout the world right now.
"These students will graduate in May," Bloom-Wilson said, "so this will be the last chance for the community to enjoy these delightful young men in a program that they're very proud to present."
Admission to "Senegal: Rhythms of Africa" is free. Sponsored in part by the NWC French Club, it is the last fall semester program in the Northwest College 2006-07 Multicultural Series, which starts up again in February.