Hospitality students host cultural festival to celebrate African freedom and dignity

Diploma in Hospitality Management students at Boma International Hospitality College are hosting a cultural event on 20 November 2024 to celebrate Uhuru to Ubumwe.

The students will combine African cuisine with storytelling, music, and fashion to create an immersive experience. The event aims to honor the concepts of Uhuru, which means freedom, and Ubumwe, a Kinyarwanda word for dignity. The celebration focuses on the role of food in connecting people and preserving history.

The students highlight how various regions across Africa have their own versions of starch staples, such as posho in Uganda, sadza in Zimbabwe, and nshima in Zambia. While the ingredients and names differ, these dishes represent a shared culinary identity across the continent. The students also use the event to explore the history of maize, which arrived in Africa from Mesopotamia via Portuguese traders in the 15th century.

They explain how the crop became a staple during the era of European settlement and labor. By sharing these meals, the participants create a space for people to exchange ideas and celebrate the diverse cultures and dreams of the community.