The Burman Black Student Alliance (BBSA) is hosting Cultural Collision this Saturday (Feb. 1) in Lacombe inside the Gwen Bader Fitness Centre at Burman University.
School councillor Tamara van Rensburg explains the purpose behind the event.
"We are connecting with students as well as people within the community," she said. "Community members to just come together, share, bring awareness to the various cultures that are represented, not only on campus but also off campus, within Lacombe or even Central Alberta."
van Rensburg mentioned that over 80 countries are represented at Burman University.
The event will see booths set up throughout the facility with different groups sharing about their culture through food and exhibits, in addition to performances with song and dance.
Co-sponsor Tyler Saunders says some of the cultures represented include Filipino, Jamaican, African, and more.
The theme this year is Roots and Rhythm.
"To celebrate the various roots, the various foundations and structures that have led people to become resilient," explained van Rensburg. "We are such a resilient group of people."
She says Cultural Collision has been held once before but it was before the pandemic. Part of the goal behind the event is to make people aware of what Burman University has to offer.
"This event is here not only to have people see what Burman is about, but also to share in that culture and to create community. We thrive in community and this is another event where that can happen. Recognizing that even though there are many differences that we can share as people, there are many similarities that we also do share."
Hosting Cultural Collision on Feb. 1 was chosen to coincide with the start of Black History Month.
van Rensburg said that the Burman Black Student Alliance is all about bringing students together.
"Whether they're African or they are of Caribbean descent, coming together to have space on campus where they can share their culture, where they can feel safe. Speak in languages that are familiar and are similar to each other, where they have a little bit of home right here on Burman University, away from their home."
Cultural Collision gets underway at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Those interested in hosting a booth can email bbsa@burmanu.ca. The cost is $40 per booth.
The event is free to attend.
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