This semester, get ready to explore culture across the globe from the University of South Alabama’s dining hall. The Fresh Food Company, often called the Caf,  will be hosting events highlighting cultures abroad by exposing students to culture in the tastiest way: food! 

Davorius James, Administrative Assistant at the YMCA of Dearborn, Mobile, and former Coordinator of International Student Services and Programs at South, coordinated the Passport To: event with the Head of the Fresh Food Company, Chef Howard Terrance. International students presented their respective countries alongside cooks from the Fresh Food Company. The first Passport To: event was a great success, beginning in Africa on the first day of Black History Month. 

“I noticed that in Global USA there’s never any events hosted for African countries, so Passport To: Africa was the first event hosted for African countries because outside the continent of Asia, there’s no events being hosted for other countries and continents,” James said. 

This event showcased foods and facts from across the African continent, promoting the diverse and rich cultures within.

James explained that the idea for the Passport to: Africa event came from his time at the University of North Alabama. There, international students hosted their countries for Passport To: The World. Executing the idea on campus was a collaborative event with different departments playing a hand, such as SGA providing passports for the event. With Passport To: Africa, James wanted people to truly feel like they were included. 

“We wanted to show Africa from all over the place, that way people understand ‘this is a culture that I come from,’ but also once you know your culture, you know a sense of who you are.”

Different food stations served students traditional African dishes while African music filled the dining hall. In the presentation room of the Caf, Chef Terrance and cook Blessing Chicah prepared fufu, a starchy and smooth side dish popular in West and Central Africa. Chicah is of Nigerian descent and made fufu how she was used to enjoying it. 

Additionally, faculty and guest speakers from the community came together to share their knowledge on the highlighted culture of the evening. The special guest speaker, Robert E. Battles, Director of the Africatown Welcome Center and former Mobile County Public School System member, shared his experiences and insight on rising above oppression. Dr. Dieudonné Gnammankou, South’s Fulbright Scholar who has been working with the community of Africatown, also presented to students and community members about early writing systems originating in Africa, such as Nsibidi from Nigeria.

In the coming semesters, Global USA hopes to follow James’ blueprint for cultural events in the Caf.

“We’d like to be able to showcase all of our students’ culture that we have here in various ways and events, so yes, we definitely look forward to doing something similar to represent all of our countries,” said Heather Nix, Director of International Admissions & Student Programs.

The Fresh Food company is eager to continue giving students a taste of culture starting on September 26 for National Hispanic Heritage Month. This event, and more to come, will continue to hold inclusivity for all. To stay updated, visit the Caf and their website here.