African Wedding Experience at UVA

Essay

African Wedding Experience at UVA

GAPSA End-of-Semester Ball
Two students dance on a podium, one holds a microphone
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he Graduate and Professional Students of Africa (GAPSA) hosted its inaugural ball and awards ceremony this month. Founded just two years ago as part of the International Student Citizen Leader Fellowship, GAPSA began as “a small, informal gathering of African graduate students sharing food and fellowship in their apartments during the pandemic,” said Nnenna Onyima, a Nigerian PhD candidate in French and GAPSA’s founder. Today, GAPSA is a registered CIO with over 100 members and a six-member Executive Board representing diverse programs across Grounds.

The end-of-semester ball, themed the African Wedding Experience, was the initiative of current GAPSA president Miracle Enwere, a PhD candidate in Chemistry from Nigeria, whose vision was to celebrate and showcase the vibrant and rich African culture represented within the UVA community. “Our goal has always been to make UVA a home away from home for all graduate and professional students of African descent,” Enwere said. “This event is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of GAPSA’s executive team and committee members across Grounds.”

The ball brought together students, faculty, and staff from across Grounds for feasting, pageantry, dancing, poetry, theatrical performances, speech-making, awards, and music. A key highlight of the night was the African Country Parade. Participants represented nine African countries: Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Senegal.

Two students stand facing each other and smiling at the camera

Another standout moment was the crowning of Mr. and Ms. GAPSA: Simon Atsu Amegbo (chemistry, Ghana) and Priscilla Akpalu (Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Ghana) who were celebrated for their creative outfits, exceptional dancing skills, and apt responses to questions. The first runners-up in both categories, Zeguela Kamagate (School of Medicine, Ivory Coast) and Obumnaeke Gabriel Odinamkpa (UVA Health, Nigeria), also performed brilliantly, making the final decision particularly difficult.

5 students stand on a stage. Four of them look at the last one's belly, which she holds with one hand.

The ball also featured a drama entitled “African Wedding Experience,” directed by Bolade Ajibola, a Nigerian graduate student in the chemistry department. The drama, whose actors were from different graduate programs and countries, held the audience in suspense while showcasing the beauty of an African wedding.

plate of food

Guests enjoyed dishes from Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, including Jollof rice, pounded yam and egusi soup, banku and palm nut soup, attiéké with fish sauce, and pepper soup, along with plantains, salads, and fresh fruit.

GAPSA serves as a vital support network and a safe space for African graduate and professional students to feel at home at UVA. The organization runs a one-on-one mentorship program to help first-year students from various African countries transition to life in the United States. GAPSA members also regularly come together to celebrate birthdays, fellowships, grants, graduations, and other milestones, fostering a sense of family and community. Its membership spans schools and programs across UVA, including the Darden School of Business, the School of Medicine, and other graduate programs. 

Through events like the ball, GAPSA honors the roots and achievements of its members, bringing ever more cultural richness to Grounds.