On Friday, Nov. 7, over one hundred students gathered in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union’s Multipurpose room for an African Wedding hosted by the African Student Association (ASA).
Complete with balloons, traditional African garb and lively African music, the stage was set for an exciting and interactive display of comedy and culture.
After a warm welcome from ASA President Thomas Adam, MCs Evannah Arasa and Sammy Moses-Ailemen introduced the wedding party, including family and friends of the bride and grooms.
During the ceremony, grooms Raymond Brown and Tilmon Brown competed for event coordinator Ashley Tuma’s favor through heartwarming speeches and a variety of other challenges led by the MCs.
After careful consideration and feedback from the audience, Tuma chose Raymond Brown as her groom, leaving Tilmon Brown visibly devastated.
After a touching speech from the best man and a dramatic series of objections, Adam finally officiated the marriage.
Guests then joined the cast in a vivacious celebration before enjoying a buffet-style dinner.
Teeming with excitement and positivity, the wedding was a hit, despite it being a somewhat last-minute effort.
ASA President Thomas Adam said the original plan was a culture show, but wanting to engage the audience more, they opted for a wedding-style comedy show, which event coordinator and bride Ashley Tuma said they planned in about a month.
While setting up an event in such a limited time was a tall task, ASA is not unfamiliar with overcoming adversity. Just last semester, the organization was completely shut down.
“ASA was quietly dying on campus,” said ASA Treasurer David Asamoah. “We had to revive it.”
Through hard work and dedication, they have done just that. Adam said the process has been strenuous, but they are already beginning to see the result of their hard work.
Not only was every table full, but extra chairs and plates were required to accommodate everyone attending.
Adam called for BGSU to provide ASA with a bigger venue, saying, “We have more and more people coming and we are going to do it bigger every single year.”
Second-year psychology major Kanyan Peoples said he enjoyed the event and that he would attend another.
“It was very impactful,” said Peoples. “The food is great, there’s great vibes, comedy, traditions and I’m glad ASA is back on campus, nobody can stop them.”
Raymond Brown, who participated as the groom, echoed this sentiment.
“I am African-American, so tapping into African-style weddings and learning about the traditions was beautiful,” said Brown.
While comedy and drama certainly contributed to the popularity of the wedding, African culture is at the heart of ASA and its events.
“Our main goal here is to build an African community and remind people with African roots of where they are from,” said Asamoah. “A lot of people on campus call themselves American, but also have roots in Africa.”
Tuma expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to display her culture to so many people, also adding that she thinks it is important to learn about global cultures and issues.
“I hope people can get a peek into African culture, learn more about Africans in general and free Sudan and free Palestine,” Tuma said.
Adam also emphasized how important it is to engage in other cultures.
“Even if you are not specifically of African descent, it is important to celebrate and be embraced by that culture, “ said Adam. “It is super impactful to get that experience from other college students.”
While the wedding was a success, ASA is far from finished and they plan to continue growing.
“There are a lot of freshmen here and on our board and I see a bright future for ASA,” said Adam. “We are shaping into a community that we can continue to build upon.”
