10/29/07
Campus

Media Credit: Andre Kohan - MCT Volunteers cheer on the speeches given at the World Wide Darfur Day Ceremonies held on May 11, 2007 in the District of Columbia.

As part of an effort to bring awareness to campus surrounding the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, the Howard University Student Association and the African Student Association are holding auditions for Dance for Darfur, a talent showcase with emphasis on the African tragedy.

On Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. students can give their best for a good cause. Organizers encourage students to bring talents of all forms from dancing and spoken word to singing and everything in between.

The talent show will be held in Ira Aldridge Theater on Nov. 29 and funds raised from ticket sales and campus organizational sales like T-shirts and wristbands will go to the Save Darfur Coalition. The coalition focuses on raising awareness and funds to the genocide.

"We want to raise money, but more so we just want to spread awareness about the incidents in Darfur," said director of political and external affairs Joy Lindsay.

Conflict began in Darfur in four years ago, according to Save Darfur. Two rebel groups -The Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement-rose up against the central Sudanese government in 2003.

The rebel groups, according to Save Darfur, consist of mainly "non-Arab black African" Muslims who are mainly farmers. The government supports groups of local and tribal militias, known as Janjaweed, to oppose the two rebel groups. The Janjaweed militias are mostly comprised of "Arab black African" Muslims.
Rape, murder and torture have since infested the country that even under ideal conditions struggles. The result of the conflict has been approximately 400,000 deaths and 2.3 Darfurians have fled their country, which is roughly the size of the state of Texas, according to Save Darfur.

HUSA and ASA are hoping to educate the campus about this crisis and encourage students to do what they can to help out. Schools in Howard's backyard, like George Washington University, which held a Darfur Interfaith Concert, have picked up the cause and student organizers think it's about time for Howard students to do the same.

"As Howard students it's important to continue that legacy of being involved and being politically aware," Lindsey said.
Spreading awareness is their top priority.

"I'm from Nigeria, and I never knew about Darfur," said Bosede Jegede an ASA event coordinator. Jegede learned of the genocide when was recently approached by HUSA to aid in the organization of Dance for Darfur. She used her ignorance as an example of the work that needs to be on this campus.

Any students with talents they are willing to share are invited to audition and participate in the talent show. Lindsey said that performances are preferably geared toward the topic at hand, but any talent is acceptable. Informational pamphlets will be distributed before and after performances, and during intermissions representatives from Save Darfur will educate the audience on the subject.

Jegede said the main goal is to make education fun, so students are open, willing and accepting of the information.

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