The phrase ‘Koma Waidi’ comes from the Nubian people of northeastern Africa, what is present-day Sudan and Egypt. The phrase in its entirety means “Tales of Our Past”, and it is a reference to the ways our individual pasts inform our collective present and future.

Paired with the phrase is the Aya, shown above, an Adinkra symbol that stems from the Akan people from Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The Aya is a fern, a hardy plant that is traditionally associated with notions of endurance, independence, and resourcefulness. For us, it signifies the ability to flourish in all conditions. To overcome what challenges have arisen in our past that make our present and future possible.

We are looking to our past and the long ancestral histories we each possess; the challenges we have overcome as we move through life; the bonds we have made with those we met along the way; and the joy and happiness that have come from our experiences. We hope to honor our past so that we may celebrate our present.

The Culture Show will take place Saturday, February 17th in the Mandel Performance Hall located in Reynolds Club. Doors open at 5:00 PM. Formal or traditional attire is preferred.

Koma Waidi

The 2024 African and Caribbean Student Association Culture Show

Team Members