What began as a yearly student performance evolved into something far more expansive and impactful at Indiana University this year. The Hamilton Lugar School hosted its first Africa Fest, transforming a busy campus building into a colorful, loud, and lively celebration of African cultures. The event aimed to challenge wrongful assumptions about Africa and offer a more nuanced understanding of the continent.

The idea for Africa Fest stemmed from a persistent issue: too many people still reduce an entire continent to one narrative – a place of huts, animals, and struggle. For many, perceptions of Africa remain distorted, shaped by outdated media and a lack of exposure to the continent’s depth and global relevance.

“Their understanding tends to date from the colonial period, informed by national geographic, and sources like that, uh, and it’s become incredibly important for students, uh, you know, young ones in schools and others to understand that, uh, in your lifetime, the majority population on earth will be Africa born,” Dr. Tavy Aherne said. 

Other common misconceptions often paint Africa as a land where wildlife roams freely in vast, untamed landscapes, and where people are confined to undeveloped regions. Such perceptions overlook the richness of Africa’s beauty, its innovation, and the reality of its modern societies. Dr. Omar, Dr. Aherne, and many others believe that these stereotypes create a limited, one-dimensional view of a continent that is rich in diversity and complexity. To further illustrate just how skewed these views can be, Dr. Omar shared a story from one of her colleagues, who had grown up in an urban African environment, far from the wildlife that many associate with the continent.

“Yet if you talk to the individuals here from the continent, such as our colleague, uh Beidy Sow… his first time seeing an elephant was when he arrived in the United States to visit the Washington DC Zoo,” Aherne said. 

 To combat these generalizations, organizers wanted to break that down and depict a more accurate representation: a continent made up of 54 countries, each with its own languages, cities, traditions, and innovations. But, showcasing culture and heritage was only part of their initiative. Another key goal was to connect Africa’s cultural diversity to its rising global influence, and show students why it is significant and relevant now.

“If you’re looking at telecommunications, telecom, cellular technologies, uh, informatics, cyber security, a center is Africa, the continent of Africa,” Aherne said. “If you want to work in international business, uh, or foreign service, or even in the US in social work, in education, you need to understand that populus.”

The event was multi-faceted, blending cultural celebration with opportunities for deeper learning, all the while encouraging students to not only enjoy the music, food, and traditions, but also to reflect on Africa’s complexity, diversity, and growing global significance. 

Africa Fest was not just a celebration of culture; it inspired people to reconsider the way we think about the continent. By offering students a chance to engage with Africa’s rich diversity, both in its heritage and its present-day influence, the event highlighted the importance of embracing new perspectives. It encouraged participants to look beyond stereotypes and consider how they could contribute to a more informed and connected world. And it starts with one simple task:

“If you hear something simplistic, question it,” Aherne said.