Nia Doaks | Managing Editor
N.C. State is home to a variety of traditions and festivals. One week in particular, Pan Afrikan Festival Week, is especially important to those who wish to celebrate African-American culture and community on the University’s campus.
Pan Afrikan Festival Week is a tradition that is in its 45th year at N.C. State University. It began back in the 70s, and has sometimes been referred to affectionately as “the black homecoming”.
This year’s festivities include a scholarship pageant, guest speaker Nikki Giovanni, and events held by various AASAC organizations. The week will end on Friday with the first ever Pan Afrikan concert featuring rapper Big K.R.I.T.
What does it take for Pan Afrikan Week to be put into action? The Nubian Message sat down with Amira Alexander, President of Black Students Board, to get an inside look at planning for this community event.
Nubian Message: How long has BSB been planning for this year’s Pan Afrikan week and who is involved with the planning?
Alexander: I have been planning for Pan Afrikan week since October of last semester. My advisors and my board have been involved- they’ve been contacting our vendors and contacting caterers to make sure that everything is perfect for the week.
NM: How has it evolved and changed since its earlier years?
A: Well, there’s not too much that I can get from the past, because we don’t have much to reference in regards to previous activities and events. We only have three years of binders but have been around for 45 years. All that I have to look at are flyers, past Pan Af designs. They had kickoffs, they had cookouts and that kind of stuff- so we kind of have the same feel.
NM: What are the goals of this year’s Pan Afrikan events?
A: My goal was to really bring it into what Pan Afrikanism means. I wanted to bring it into the actual definition of what it means to be African American or people of color and the struggles that they face. This is also why I brought Big K.R.I.T. He’s not a normal artist. Even his nameit means King Remembered In Time. What artist do you know that references themselves as kings? He speaks on things that African-Americans struggle with every day and is true to his art form.
NM: What was the most challenging part of planning this week?
A: I’ll honestly say the most challenging part was working with other organizations. A lot of people have a misconception of what BSB is- we’re not an organization, we’re a committee. This means that we don’t raise money, and I have to go through my advisor to reach anyone and make these events happen [unlike with AASAC]. It’s never been really clear what BSB was, and this made it [stressful] for me.
NM: How do you hope to see Pan Afrikan week change or improve in the future?
A: I would hope that the festive aura that I’m trying to place on Pan Afrikan stays. In the past there’s been so much emphasis on the partying, and I feel like people don’t put as much emphasis on the events that people work hard to have. I’m trying to make it fun and an actual celebration of our culture. I’m redefining pan-afrikanism. That’s why I took Africa out of the design- Pan-Afrikanism is more than just Africa, it’s in our everyday lives. It morphs into something different every single day.
NM: What does Pan Afrikan week mean to you?
A: The unifying of people of the African diaspora. A lot of people don’t want to call themselves African-Americans in order to be politically correct- but you didn’t originate from here. You originated from the Motherland. My goal this year was to bring it back to an actual celebration of our culture, of our history. Recognizing where we came from, recognizing who we are and who we ought to be.
UPCOMING PAN AFRIKAN WEEK EVENTS:
Wednesday, 6:30pm, Talley Ballroom | Nikki Giovanni- an evening of poetry, love, and enlightenment
Thursday, 7pm, Talley Ballroom | Afrolatinidad
Friday, 12:15pm, Free Expression Tunnel | Pop the tension
Friday, 7pm, Talley Ballroom | Big K.R.I.T. Concert
Saturday, 12pm | What’s done in the dark
