Organizations add African pride to Black History Month celebrations

By JaCorey Law, Contributing Writer

February 23, 2026

Xavierites put on dashikis, kente, mudcloth, kanga and agbada to celebrate African culture, fashion and identity during Black History Month.

The African Student Union and Xavier University Fashion Society closed out Black History Month on Monday, Feb. 23, with “Fly and Rooted,” an event highlighting African heritage through fashion and cultural education.

“One of the most important things about being part of any culture is to have something tangible that people can actually grab on and touch,” said Gabrielle Kwateng-Mann, the president of the African Student Union. “That’s why fashion in culture is so powerful, because you can say so much with so little.”

After classes, students gathered for a night of culture, community and connection. The event was organized by ASU and XUFS executive board members Kwateng-Mann, the ASU president; Pete Gandah, the ASU community service chair; and Victoria Akins, the XUFS vice president. The group said they spent weeks planning the program. Kwateng-Mann said fashion serves as a tangible connection to culture.

“One of the most important things about being part of any culture is to have something tangible that people can actually grab on and touch,” Kwateng-Mann said. “That’s why fashion in culture is so powerful, because you can say so much with so little.”

The event brought together students from different backgrounds to experience African traditions in an engaging way. Kwateng-Mann, who is of Ghanaian descent and a Psychology major, said clothing represents more than appearance – it reflects history and identity.

Organizers said bringing the event to Xavier was an intentional effort to highlight African history and encourage African American students to explore their ancestral ties.

“Black History Month is important right now because we are going through a time period where history is being distorted,” Kwateng-Mann said. “We need to have space where we remember what came before us, including our ancestors.”

Some students shared they had never seen traditional African clothing up close, organizers said, which can contribute to limited cultural understanding.

Gandah, a sophomore with family ties to the African continent, said the event offered students a meaningful first experience with African culture.

“So far tonight, I think the event is going really well,” Gandah said. “I’m happy to see students show interest in African culture and experience this for what may be their first time.”

Gandah, a Psychology major, said he appreciated the university providing ASU and XUFS a platform to share traditions that are deeply personal to him.

“I think ‘Fly and Rooted’ is very important because not only does it give us a chance to share our cultures with each other, but it also gives Black students at our school who are more removed from African culture a chance to experience it,” Gandah said.

Akins, a Mississippi native with a Nigerian father, said she planned the event to celebrate the influence of African culture on Black American fashion and art.

“A lot of Black American culture, fashion, styles and artistic influence comes from African culture,” Akins said. “Whether we may know it or not, much of what we do is rooted in the continent of Africa.”

Organizers said they hope “Fly and Rooted” encourages students to continue learning about African traditions beyond Black History Month.

“I believe Black History Month is celebrated the same as when we were young,” Gandah said. “Now that we are adults, we need to take learning our Black history into our own hands.”