CMU Celebrates Black History Month with Sankofa Pan-African Fashion Show

Story by Jordan Moorhead, RAW Magazine
Photos by Jordan Moorehead & Devon Rademacher

A celebration of black history month and African cultures rocked Finch Fieldhouse over the weekend.

The Sankofa Pan-African Fashion Show was put on by the Central Michigan University African Student Association and gave students a taste of the beauty in African dress.

Designs from House of Mope, Eywa and Ankara Express strutted down the runway.

The pieces were filled with bright colors and patterns from yellow, orange, pink, blue and purple. Many pieces were paired with black for a great contrast that highlighted African-inspired accessories, skirts, tops and dresses.

CMU sophomore Vanessa Ozor is the designer of Ankara Express. She said she has been preparing for the show for the last six months.

Ozor sent more than 30 different looks down the runway. Ozor said she learned how to sew from her mother when she was young.

A look that stood out from the show was a bright orange jumpsuit, with a striped pattern that also incorporated splashes of red.

While clothes are what Ozor has a passion for, she is majoring in medicine.

“I want to help people,” Ozor said. “I want to go back home eventually, and when I get there, I want to have a job.”

Ozor moved to the United States at age 16 from Nigeria.

The fashion show also incorporated dance, music and food for an all around cultural display. Everyone who attended was able to experience African culture in more ways than the incredible clothing.