After a month packed full of educational, fun and collaborative events, the Black and African Student Union (BASU) at Saint Louis University-Madrid’s campus concluded their Black History Month celebrations with a moment of reflection and a tasty potluck.
BASU hosted multiple events in collaboration with other clubs on campus, such as the dance club, Pride, and psychology club to emphasize the intersectionality that Black History Month has on several aspects of the world today and generate more interest among those on campus who may not be as familiar with what the club does on campus.
Sena Segbefia, president of the BASU, has been one of leading forces in making the wide variety of activities come to life on campus.
“We were thinking of what our goal might be for the month and to educate and bring people together,” explains Segbefia. “[We wanted to] incorporate as many interests as we could, and I’m really proud of the work we’ve done.”
Several students gathered in SLU-Madrid’s indoor patio on a calm, mild afternoon to unwind from midterms, listen to music, and eat home-cooked food while painting a picture of the Sankofa bird, which Segbefia explains holds a lot of personal importance to her and the connection she has with her culture.
“It’s an African symbol that represents looking back into your past and to your ancestors to inspire you and give you guidance,” says Segbefia. “My grandma used to talk about the Sankofa bird and she would say, ‘let your ancestors inspire you to intelligence and greatness.’”
Segbefia also explained that each of the current board members for BASU will be graduating in May, but largely due to their efforts to have a stronger presence and involvement on campus have found two new board members to take on the leadership for the following semester. She also remains hopeful that the BASU will continue the current momentum that they have and reach more students on campus after graduation.
Although the club serves as a safe community for black and African students on campus, participating in activities is open to all, regardless of their backgrounds. Segbefia notes that she hopes BASU grows in becoming an educating group for those who are interested in learning about cultures that may be unfamiliar to them.
“It’s important, especially coming to a country like Spain where there aren’t a lot of Black and African people, to feel like you have a space,” says Segbefia. “On campus specifically, there’s a lot of education that can be done because students come from all over the world, so [we provide] space to interact with new cultures in new ways.”
As far as the potluck and painting goes, Segbefia describes the event as “just the final cherry on top” of a busy and unforgettable month.
