Binghamton’s African Student Organization crowned 2005’s King and Queen of Africa in BU’s first co-ed pageant organized by a student group.
The ASO’s Mwami and Malkia competition pitted 12 contestants against each other in an event that resembled the Miss America pageant last Friday night in the Mandela Room.
Edmundo Chissungo, a freshman engineering student, beat out three other males for the title of Mwami. Louisa Cruickshank-Mills, a 19-year-old politics, philosophy and law major, was chosen among eight female contestants to be Chissungo’s queen.
The 12 competitors each represented their own African homeland and culture, with constituents from 11 different countries present. The king and queen hailed from Mozambique and Ghana, respectively.
The pageant, which started over an hour late and ran into early Saturday morning, featured the 12 students competing in standard beauty pageant categories. Men and women walked the catwalk in everything from swimwear, to suits and evening gowns, to traditional African dress.
The 12 contestants also squared off in a talent round that featured singing, dancing and poetry readings.
The most important aspect of the competition, however, was the opening round, which gave each contestant an opportunity to describe the culture and heritage of the nation he or she represented, and what set it apart from the rest of Africa.
Savi Horne, one of the competition’s visiting judges, asserted that how well a contestant performed in this round would be vital.
“[I’m looking for] how well they represent their country; how convinced they are that it’s the best place to come from.”
The purpose of the competition was “to honor all men and women who are not ashamed of who they are, but proudly and boldly take up the armor of
their roots,” according to Akosua Asor Yeboah, president of the African Student Organization.
Proceeds of the ticket sales went toward ASO’s annual festival, Afahye.
The crowd of about 200 people vocalized support for their homeland’s representative. The lively audience filled the time between rounds with interactive participation.
Audience members cheered for fellow guests who got on stage and sang a cappella or even danced to background music. Other groups that performed between acts were the mixed martial arts club and BU’s own step team, X-Factor.
Horne said that the pageant is an excellent way to foster solidarity among the African-American community on campus:
“It’s a great way of bringing the continent together, to show diversity in culture and pride in a place.”
“It’s obviously very important, look at the turnout,” added sophomore Katherine Chala.
The African Student Organization at BU has been around since 1989, and has been active in campus philanthropy since it was formed.