2014!

B S A C!

FEB 2014

AFRI CVO I C E

African Marriage and Culture

African Heritage Month reminds us of our history and culture; how it is celebrated by individual family and the community. In this article I will be sharing how traditional marriage is performed in Nigeria. Marriage either traditional or Western is an important emotional and social transition for the bride and groom, and participation of family and friends in the process can be a major source of emotional and nancial support for the newlyweds. African marriage is a complex institution that generally proceeds by stages, most of which are characterised by the performance of prescribed rites. In Southern Nigeria (Yoruba tribe), marriage ceremonies are usually in four phases: Letter writing, Family

by Oluronke Taiwo, Black Student Advising Center usually takes place at the bride parents house and the brides family is responsible for the preparation and costs, but if the grooms family is able they can help with some of the costs. In the introduction ceremony the grooms families are led by an appointed speaker which represents their family. The appointed speaker for the grooms family is referred to as Olopa Iduro (grooms family spokes woman) this woman will rst explain the purpose for which they travelled all the way from their town to the brides home and they must also give a good reason why the daughter is to be given to their family. Also on the brides side, there will be an appointed speaker called Olopa Ijoko (brides family spokes woman). This woman will be the one questioning members of the

introduction, Engagement ceremony and the Wedding Ceremony. Letter Writing and Introduction Ceremony: In the letter writing ceremony the family of the groom will write a formal proposal letter to the brides family asking for the hand of the bride in marriage. Included with the formal letter are gifts such as kola nuts, fruits, wine, assorted biscuits and bottled water. The letter is a formal way in which the grooms parents and family ofcially requests for the hand of the bride from her parents. Introduction ceremony is an event in which both family members of the bride and groom are ofcially introduced to each other. The event

grooms family why they should give their daughter away in marriage to their son.

The bride and groom share honey to symbolize sweet love and happiness and peppercorn for the heated times and growing pains of family life ahead.
The beauty of this ceremony is that they will cover the face of 3-4 women and the groom must identify his bride out of all the women presented. Engagement ceremony: This ceremony is recognized in Yoruba culture as the marriage, hence it is called igbeyawo meaning wife carrying. This ceremony signies the union of the bride and groom with the full blessing of the parents and members of both extended families. It is part of the tradition that the grooms family and friends bring gifts for the bride which includes a suitcase lled with traditional clothes, pairs of shoes to match the traditional clothes such as aso oke,(a cloth which is hand woven, and its made into buba and iro), wrist watch, 21 pieces of yam tubers, a bag of salt, kola nuts, bitter

kola (orogbo), wine, pop, a bible and the engagement ring. There will also be an envelope that consists of certain amount of money depending on each family. The bride will now be requested to choose one item out of all the gifts the groom had brought for her. As a Christian shes expected to pick the bible. Inside the bible is the engagement ring. If the bride picks the bible then the two families will be happy and they will start to dance and sing several traditional and gospel songs with drums to usher in the success of the engagement. The presentation of gifts to the bride process is usually called Bride Price. Bride price can also be seen as a way of valuing the labor of women, the effort involved by the bride's family in raising the female, and the labor value of a woman's offspring. The payment is also a way of securing the rights of the husband's group over the woman's children. During the engagement ceremony stage, there is a tasting ceremony that symbolizes the issues couples experience in marriage. The bride and groom share honey to symbolize sweet love and happiness and peppercorn for the heated times and growing pains of family life ahead.

The wedding ceremony: Just like any Western wedding ceremony both bride and groom would go to the registry for notication that the wedding ceremony will be done in the church and legal papers are given to be signed after the church ceremony. In my own case I had twelve people in my bridal party. The church ceremony lasted for two hours followed by a reception of about a thousand guests, from all works of life, Nigeria and Abroad (Taiwo, 1981). After the reception, the bride usually holds another party in her parents house. The grooms family and the groom will later come to take the bride to her husbands home. Prayers are held for the couple before leaving for the grooms family house.

Ms. Oluronke Taiwo

The Meaning of Black History to Students: Different Perspectives

Ijay Nnabuo BSAC, Project Coordinator Black history month means a variety of things to me and as we celebrate Black History month, I like us to reect on our heritage and the impact it has played in our present life. Let us remember the struggles and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., ponder on the words of Malcom X, reect on the wisdom of Maya Angelou and recall the efforts of Nelson Mandela. We should continuously reect upon how the freedom ghts and the battles for equality that our ancestors fought for us have brought us to where we are today. In fact we must strive to keep the re of human rights and liberation burning every day. I urge us to ask ourselves critical questions during this time: what valuable contributions have I made or continually make to the African race? Have I actively participated in the ghts against racism and discrimination? How do I presently carry on the teachings and ideologies of our great ancestors? We must all actively work towards closing the gap that racism creates and echo the struggles of our ancestor. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us remember that change does not roll in on wheels of inevitability but comes through continuous struggle Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Damilola Onifade African Heritage Month to me is an important month that celebrates the milestones we all as Africans have made. It brings together people of all works of life and recognizes important events that have made us who we are as individuals. It is also a yearly reminder of what the people before us have gone through for the struggle of equality (both white and black) and their amazing strength and courage amidst overwhelming adversity. As a youth in todays society I know that racism - at times silent can have an effect on an individuals wellbeing. But the month of February allows me to draw upon examples of people living in far harsher times and reect upon the way they dealt with the world around them. I am very happy that African Heritage Month exists to bring us together and to encourage each other towards our goal for success.

important inuential gures in African history. For example, the Martin Luther King event that took place on January 20th which was extremely well

I celebrate African history throughout the year and not just on Black History Month.
organized and delivered an amazing message of love and world peace. I'm so excited to get more involved and meet even more amazing people. IJAY NNABUO

Odette Gbeve African heritage month is an important month set aside for us to reect on the progress and richness of black people. There is a vast majority of black people that make this day worth celebrating. Racism, segregation and slavery despite the negative effects have actually empowered the black race in many ways. February is a month when we all should remember the contributions of remarkable liberation leaders and pioneers such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dudley Laws and other who envisioned the privileges we enjoy today. I strongly believe equality is not yet fully realized in our society as black people still experience systemic racism today. Racism is a phenomenon that is almost suppressed in our subconscious, and I personally believe the only way out is to continuously educate ourselves on the issues of racism and discrimination. We need to press on and look at the positive side of things rather than negatives. Through celebrations like those done through Black History Month, we are encouraged to press on the richness of our contributions as black people. Black people make and continue to make meaningful contributions around the globe today; this is the month of celebration, a

DAMILOLA ONIFADE

As a youth in todays society I know that racism - at times silent can have an effect on an individuals wellbeing.
Elizabeth Attomsa Personally, I celebrate African history throughout the year and not just on Black History Month. Last year during this time, I had wondered if there were any events Dalhousie held for African History Month, or if there was any recognition of African history month in general, and when I hadn't heard of anything going on I was a bit disappointed. I was formally introduced to the black student advising centre this year and I feel like I've missed out on so much in my rst year. There is a sense of home, love, and security; almost like a family. Not to mention some of the amazing events held giving recognition to

ELIZ AB ETH ATTOM SA

ODETTE GBEVE

I strongly believe equality is not yet fully realized in our society as black people still experience systemic racism today.
month of pressing forward and not looking back. I must emphasize while this period, brings back many sad memories of the past, we must not dwell in the past. But rather this period should be a time to celebrate the many accomplishments black people all across Canada and the world. Let us strive to be the best we can in whatever we do.

need to surpass in order to prosper. Although many of our elders grew up during the radical black liberation struggles, many black youth of today did not. Black History month gives them an opportunity to conceptualize those crucial time periods. As we celebrate the prosperity of black leaders in their own right during Black History Month, I would like to pose a few challenges. I would rst like to challenge black people, black Canadians, Canadians and the world at large to transform the intersectional manners in which the political, social, legal and economic systems which continue to dominate and oppress black people. Secondly, I would challenge black solidarity movements to adopt a more collectivist approach. Many movements adopt effective strategies from other movements, and perhaps if black movements did more so, this would create innite possibilities. I lastly challenge black movements to shift from making essentialist claims, which contribute largely towards in-group marginalization. I hope Black History Month continues to grow, and will gain more recognition. I also hope that the mantra Black History month creates, is a mantra which inltrates into the hearts of black Canadians and the black community at large forever, not only in February.

NTOMBI NKIWANE

Ntombi Nkiwane The marginalization of the black race in Canada, and worldwide, in essence makes Black History Month (African Heritage Month) a necessity. Black History Month, enabled by the Ontario Black History Society, provides a platform for black Canadians to be educated about their historical roots. It also provides a platform for black Canadians to relate to and look up to people of their own race. Todays society is plagued with heteronormative notions which fuel black marginalization. Society does not portray nearly enough black leaders for us as a black collective to look up to and emulate. This portrayal, or lack thereof, adds to the low self-esteem of black people, which was facilitated by colonization. This psyche is what we

PRINCEWILL OGB AN

DOMINIQUE OL IVERDARES

Todays society is plagued with heteronormative notions which fuel black marginalization..

KAREEM WALLACE

Spirituality and self-care by Princewill Ogban BSAC MSW Placement

As students get into the second and third month of the winter semester, school work begin to build up, required and non-required reading starts to add up, assignment due dates draw closer, and the need to meet and do group work becomes eminent. While students work hard to accomplish this, most are still actively involved in family lives either as a spouse, partner, child or parent and some may have jobs to make

ends meet. This is the regular life of an average student but in all this, the need to maintain a work-life balance is particularly important for overall wellbeing. Students must strive to implement proactive self-care strategies which could be drawn from many sources including spiritual and religious tradition practices, mindfulness approaches, and therapeutic life style. Most professionals and leaders have always resorted to self-care. Self-care enhances wellbeing and involves purposeful and continuous efforts that are undertaken to ensure that all dimension of the self-receive the attention that is needed to make a person t to carry on the daily activity of life (Moore et al., 2011). Despite our busy life styles as student, it is important we celebrate African Heritage Month and reminiscence the history that people of African descent have contributed to areas such as human rights, religion, and education. For example, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King juggled education, family, social justice movement, and religious activities effectively. He was able to take

on multiple tasks and engaged in numerous activities while he keeping a personal connection with God. For Martin Luther King to have achieved all this as a Reverend, it makes me to believe that spirituality is vital to selfcare. For me, I subscribe as a Christian of African descent and belief in a higher power and a Supernatural being (God) whom I connect with. According to Dombo & Gray (2013), spirituality is an important element in self-care and selfcare should be perceived as both a spiritual activity and an ethical obligation. Spiritual practice can include spiritual reading, attending religious services, meditation, prayer or anything that helps us to nd meaning beyond self. Finally, as we celebrate Black History this month, let us reect on this quote: Never, never, be afraid to do whats right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Societys punishments are small compared to the wounds we inict on our soul when we look the other way. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

TREVOR S ILV ER

YEWANDE TAIWO

B RYANNE EVANS (LEFT)

Students Perspectives on Valentines Day

Dominique Oliver-Dares BSAC, Receptionist This Valentines Day consider the love in your life for there are two types. The rst being the love of pain. It is deceptive. Sweet words fall from its tongue onto hopeful ears. It walks with arrogance commanding attention it does not deserve. It holds precious hearts in its hands and squeezes until nothing but bitterness remains. This is the love of broken people. Ghosts who do not yet know they are void of their essence. Do not be consumed by this love for in time you too will reciprocate it. Learn from it, grow from it and never dwell in it. Then there is the love that teaches you about yourself. It will break down your walls with a warm touch to cold spots that youve tried to deny or ignore. It will build you up to heights that allow you to see the world beyond what it is but rather what it has the potential to be. It will wake you in the morning with a smile and whisper words of strength

PERPETUAL OKAFOR

when darkness engulfs you. This love will compromise when you are rigid. It will stretch its forgiving arms around you and bring remembrance of sweeter days. This is the kind to hold in your heart and share with those who bring light into your life. I am blessed to have both in my life for without one I could not recognize the other. Kareem Wallace When I think of Valentines Day a few people come to mind - friends, family and loved ones.Valentines Day is not just about relationships but about spreading love and cheers to those around you. Not everyone always feels loved, and for this reason its never a bad idea to show someone you love and appreciate them for who they are and what they mean to you. If in a relationship,Valentines Day is your make or break day.Your signicant other will be expecting to be surprised by your gifts of love or show of affection. Nevertheless, this day should be spent with lovers remembering what brought them together in the rst place while continuing to make their time and effort spent together meaningful. This Valentines Day, I am especially sending my love to my brother, Ashley Valentino Taylor who will be celebrating his 25th birthday. Always remember to keep whats important close to your heart, and never dwell on past or negative relationships. The heart is the most powerful gift God has given us and it has the power to love and forgive. Trevor Silver BSAC, Receptionist Valentines Day is a day to show your signicant other how you feel and for them to do same for you. We all express love in different ways, as we all express love in different ways from our

different experiences of love. But love should not only be shared or expressed on Valentines Day but every day as well. After all, what is love if it is only expressed on one in a whole year? That said, I also dont believe we should make a big deal about Valentines Day, but use this day to reect on the love that we shared and will continue to share with each of our loved ones, friends, and family. Compassion and love are what makes the world go round so let us always strive to share the true meaning of love. Yewande Taiwo Valentines Day, the one day when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship. One cannot talk about Valentines Day without speaking about love. We live in a world where most people don't understand the meaning of love. It is now a word that is used loosely or as a means of getting something out of someone else. To me love simply means that despite your aws, "I choose you". No one is perfect and love is choosing to stick with a person and accepting them for who they are.! This Valentines Day let us truly understand the real meaning which is commitment, forgiveness and genuine compassion. Bryanne Evans Valentines Day is my least favorite celebrated day. Personally, I have never experienced a good Valentines Day, even when I was in a relationship, so the annual disappointment left me bitter towards the whole occasion. I feel Valentines Day is overrated and there shouldnt be a specic day to express your romantic love for someone. If you love someone, you should portray your affection and appreciation for them on a daily basis. For example, I would feel more special

MANU NKEMTA

NJILLAN FORBES

AS HAR GASK IN (RIGHT )

LY NN MWA KU T I R E NI

if my boo bought me owers, chocolates, teddy bears or a gift on a Tuesday just because he felt like it as opposed to just only on Valentines Day because theres an expected social obligation to do so. Maybe when my prince charming nds me and spoils me on Valentines Day I wont dislike it so much but until then I think Valentines Day is overrated. Perpetual Okafor I see Valentines Day as a day of love. To me Valentines Day is the day you rekindle the love you have with your loved ones.Valentines Day is not meant for only boyfriends and girlfriends or husbands and wives, its for everybody. On Valentines Day, you show your loved ones that they are indeed very precious to you.Valentines Day is mostly celebrated with gift sharing and exchange and taking your loved ones out for dinner or lunch. To me this is what Valentines Day is all about (Love). Manu Nkemta I personally think Valentines Day is more business oriented than love. Love should be every day, every week, and every month with the one you love. Thats parents, siblings, wife, husbands, boyfriends, and girlfriends. What if there were no Valentines, would that mean one will never offer chocolates to loved one, or buy owers, or send a card? We all understand the origin of Valentines Day, but should it be celebrated the way it is now? It probably should be more a Christian holiday rather than pagan. For me,Valentines Day is celebrated every day and everyone should show love every day. Njillan Forbes Valentines Day is a special day when I reect on love, not just any love, Gods love to me! His love denes me and

gives me strength to face another day. What I love the most about this love is that its unconditional when Im good and when Im very naughty; I still experience and feel this love. His love sees right through and burns within me. A love that is pure, beautiful, and undeled. It is this love He shows towards me that makes me work towards becoming a better person by sharing His love with people as often as I can. So Happy Valentines Day everyone and I pray you experience Gods love every day of your lives. Ashar Gaskin Valentines Day for me is not just about showing love just on February 14th, but on every day and occasion to those you care about.Valentines Day should be a continuous display of your feelings despite the commercialism that encompasses what Valentines Day should truly mean. Lynn Mwakutireni Valentine`s day, one of the single most expensive holidays supposedly about the celebration of love. While this may prove a worthy cause to buy diamonds, chocolates and owers for the occasion, to me it is nothing more than an overpriced institutionalized fallacy of romance in today`s world. In a sense it has become a mockery of everything that love and its celebration stands for. Valentine`s day is supposed to be about love that endures forever, thoughts of one`s true love but it has evolved to be a holiday that centers on gift exchange with the emphasis placed on the dollar value than the meaning of the gift. Valentine`s day stopped being a celebration of romance, the long walks in the evening, love letters, stolen kisses and butteries dancing in your stomach to be transformed into a day that showcases opulent and ostentatious

CHIOMA NWA SIK E

DEMILADE ONIFADE gifts that are meaningless and lacking in the emotional department. So for me Valentine`s day means another day reading romance novels about the ght for true love and listening to some good rhythm and blues music and some soul anything from Marvin Gaye, Keith Sweat to R. Kelly. Because a day dedicated to love should be a reminder of real love and how it feels because it is supposed to be priceless not represented by glimmer of diamonds and the sparkle of expensive champagne. Chioma Nwasike Valentine's Day means a lot to some, but I personally think that if you are in a relationship with someone, everyday should be Valentine's Day.You should do what is in your power to show appreciation to your partner as much as possible. It's the small gestures that mean the most to a girl like me. As I always like to say, never mix seasonal people with lifetime expectations.

Demilade Onifade Valentines Day is a celebration of love and the person who serves as an anchor and a beacon of hope to you. This is the person who you see

potentially spending the rest of your life youre notwell just know that you with, and know that would fully will nd them, its simply a matter of understand you. Hopefully on this day time. you are standing next to the one person who makes you better, but if

Yolanda Roberts Spoken Words

Part 1. We preach togetherness But all we know is ourselves We say my brother and sisters But behind closed doors we dismiss him, we dismiss her But aid in its mission time after time We rejoice oh mama Africa But her cries of disappointment are in the distance.. Part 2. Saying we are not one but many for ourselves We believe we are one nation Never seeing the brighter picture But we are divided within our greatness That we should not hate one another We state we represent But learn each others stories But talk and dress in a different tone, one different from our own Uncovering our unknown sameness Our relativeness that relishes our lands We strive to defeat the divide That has encouraged us to stand up Fight together as one in nuisance Singing our freedom song That same oneness that has gotten us where we are Great people rising against difference Standing tall and proud to shout I am who I am Despite the color of my skin, embracing one another Knowing we are not alone in this ght Resting assured I have your back As you have mine.

Announcements
All students are encouraged to write a short article on any interest of their choice related to life experience as a student and send to bsac2@dal.ca. All submissions will be entered foe a chance to win a prize. Tutoring/Mentorship Program: BSAC also provide tutoring services for students on Mondays and Thursdays. Drop in at the centre to nd out about more details. Upcoming Events Birthday Celebration: The January and February birthdays will be celebrated on Feb 27th in Room 307 in the SUB from 5pm-8.30pm Save the date for a movie and debate!on Mandela coming up Thursday March 20th in room 307! from 6pm-8.30pm BSAC graduation and!end of semester birthday luncheon will be celebrated on Thursday April 3rd from 12 noon in Room 224 Credits Oluronke Taiwo " Ijay Nnabuo " Odette Gbeve " Ibimina Koko "

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