The OU African Student Association will host their annual African Royalty Pageant, which celebrates African culture, this Saturday.
Traditionally, the pageant consists of OU students from various African countries competing in categories including talent, their social service platform and country presentation. This year, however, the AFSA is putting a twist on its classic format by solely focusing on competitors from Nigeria.
“This year is kind of special, because all the contestants are from the same country, … instead of different countries across the continent, they’re going even deeper,” said Favor Mulalira, African Royalty chair of the executive team. “Everybody knows Nigeria, but they don’t know the depth and the villages and the tribes of Nigeria. I think it’s going to be really important to showcase that to the audience.”
Contestant Sholape Osifeso said it’s very important to her and her family that she’s able to be included in the pageant.
“Being able to showcase my culture to everyone is honestly a dream come true … I feel honored that I’m able to showcase my culture in a way that helps people learn what Africa is all about,” Osifeso said.
With last year’s pageant being cancelled, it’s important to everyone involved this one goes off without a hitch.
“We’ve been practicing for the past two months. At first, (Favor) helped us with our introductions, and helped us form our platforms. We’ve been trying to tweak it, because all the contestants are Nigerian," Osifeso said.
Mulalira expressed concern for upkeeping the pageant’s reputation amid its hiatus last year, but said the pressure surrounding it helps the overall morale.
“I think it’s also a good thing, because it brings out the excitement from everybody,” Mulalira said.
This year’s contestants will represent the Yoruba, Urhobo and Igbo tribes of Nigeria, but Mulalira emphasized the importance of making all students of African-descent feel welcome.
“We want to ensure that people know and understand that the African Student Association is not just about West Africa, not just about East Africa or South Africa,” said Mulalira. “It’s about all the different countries in Africa, and just coming together as a unit to be able to showcase and spread that diversity and culture on a campus that is predominantly white.”
And Osifeso agrees, saying her fellow contestants have been working with Mulalira to ensure the competition represents the whole continent.
All are welcome to attend the pageant held at Meacham Auditorium in the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., and the competition starts at 7 p.m. Tickets can be found online.
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron and Audrey McClour. Larkin Bock and Gretchen Schultz copy edited this story.
