Celebrating Taste of Africa

The spring semester brings about several wonderful things: the shift from winter to spring, longer days full of sunlight, and the thrilling return of one of Whitman’s most vibrant annual events—Taste of Africa. Hosted by the Whitman African Students Association (WASA), Taste of Africa is the culmination of months of dedication and collaboration to showcase the rich and diverse cultures of the African continent. The event invites students, staff, faculty and community members to engage with Africa through dance, performance, storytelling and—of course—food.

This year’s main event will take place on Saturday, April 19, from 6–9 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom. For many WASA members, it’s a deeply personal opportunity to bring a piece of home to Whitman and share it with the community. Last year’s theme, “Roots and Routes,” centered on the idea of building home across borders. This year’s theme, “Ubuntu—Umuntu, Ngumuntu, Ngabantu” (translated as “I am because you are / A person becomes a person through people”), celebrates collective identity and community among the African diaspora.

As the African student community at Whitman continues to grow, so too does the range of countries and cultures represented. Last year marked the largest graduating class of African-identifying students in Whitman’s history—a milestone mirrored by the growth of WASA’s alumni network.

Terence Mahlatini ’25, a senior international student from Zimbabwe and current WASA president, reflected on the event’s cultural significance and the evolution he’s witnessed:

“For me, the importance of Taste of Africa is that it’s a community-building event for the club. Each time we are planning and preparing for Taste of Africa, I feel like we engage a lot as a club, and we get to learn from each other more. Africa is a huge continent, and there are a lot of distinct cultures that not everyone knows. The whole point is to share our cultures with the whole community here, but I think also in the process, we’re also sharing our cultures within ourselves.”

Each year’s celebration has included fashion shows, poetry readings, traditional and contemporary dances, and more—all curated and performed by Whitman students. This year, the celebration will expand with a weeklong series of events (flyer attached) leading up to the big night:

Taste of Africa 2025 – Event Week Lineup

Monday, April 14, from 7–9 p.m.
Puff Puff & Politics
Third Space Center
An informal gathering featuring the popular Nigerian snack Puff Puff, paired with a community discussion on African politics.

Wednesday, April 16, from 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Wicked Waist Bead Wednesday
Third Space Center (RSVP required)
Create your own waist beads and jewelry in this expressive and hands-on cultural craft night. (Flyer attached.)

Thursday, April 17, from 6–7:30 p.m.
Gansango Drum Workshop
Reid Campus Center, Ballroom/Outside (weather permitting)
A rhythm-filled workshop with Gansango Music & Dance, a Seattle-based collective specializing in traditional West African music. (Flyer attached.)

Friday, April 18, from 5–6 p.m.
Gansango Main Performance
Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
Friday, April 18, from 6–7 p.m.
Gansango Dance Workshop
Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
Experience Gansango’s artistry in performance, followed by an interactive dance workshop. (Flyer attached.)

Saturday, April 19, from 6–9 p.m.
Taste of Africa: Main Event
Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
A joyful evening of food, fashion, performance and storytelling to honor and celebrate Africa’s cultural richness. (Flyer attached.)

Sunday, April 20, from 1–4 p.m.
Field Games with WEB, BSU, and UNIDOS
Ankeny Field
A closing celebration of fun, games, and community building across student affinity groups. (Flyer attached.)

Deo Rubangakene ’28, a first-year student from Uganda and WASA’s incoming secretary, shared his hopes for the event:

“I kind of envision Taste of Africa as a space that Africans have come together to share their culture. And hopefully it's going to be a space for people to be more curious and also very willing to learn about different things and kind of just debunk stereotypes. I think having a lot of leading-up activities to Taste of Africa kind of just ramps up that support—that Africans do exist on campus and they are a significant population and significant group of people that need to be celebrated and appreciated.”

Taste of Africa remains a powerful space for cultural exchange, learning, and joy. As WASA continues to grow and bring new energy to campus life, this week of events invites the entire Whitman community to witness, celebrate, and be in community with the continent’s diverse stories and traditions.