Ujima to present 25th annual fashion show
Annys Aristy ’16
Skidmore’s Caribbean/African American cultural awareness student group, Ujima, will stage its annual Fashion Show on Saturday, Feb. 20.
This year’s theme, “What Do You See When You See Me,” will feature bright colors and Soca music inspired by the Carribean, representations of both traditional and modern cultures in Africa, and issues prevalent today in the African-American community such as the Black Lives Matter movement, said Annys Aristy '16, one of the show's directors.
“It’s about all the different cultures and how they make us who we are today,” Aristy said. “On this campus we have this place to express ourselves, to interact with the audience and with one another, to inspire others and learn more about who we are.”
More than 30 students, from models to stage directors, are involved in the production, designed to bring an awareness of African, African-American, and Caribbean cultures through dance, music and art and showcase those connections among people of African descent.
Members of the 2016 fashion show team—top row: Ibrahima
Thiam ’16 (l), Samantha Garcia ’19, Jane Moretta-Miller ’18,
Nana Nyatakyi ’19, Fatouma Sissoko ’18, Olivia Irby ’18.
Bottom row: co-director Lydia Bernard-Jones ’19 (l),
director Annys Aristy ’16, co-director Etije Walker ’19, head
makeup artist Marcella Adams ’16.
Weekly rehearsals have been staged since October and the group’s collaborative effort has involved conducting research about the various cultures as well as reaching out to local businesses and boutiques in the local community to partner on wardrobe needs and fashion ideas.
“We all come from different places and we all have a story to tell,” said Maryam Dewitt '18, current president of Ujima and a director of the 2015 fashion show. “We still have students coming up to us and asking, ‘When are you guys putting the show on this year?’ For a lot of people, it’s not just a fashion show. It’s a real learning experience.”
Ujima’s annual Fashion Show will take at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater. Admission is free and open to the public.
Editor's note: the original version of this story incorrectly stated this as the 25th annual fashion show. The article has been updated to reflect this change.
