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Celebrating Diversity

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In response to its value of Respect for Diversity, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University is celebrating its diversity with a host of activities.

The month-long celebration also sees the Office for International Education hosting a week-long programme from 15 to 19 August to celebrate and showcase the variety of cultures present at the institution.

International Diversity Week focuses on the diverse cultures of all South African and international students studying at our university. It is also aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness of these cultures among students and staff at NMMU, and the broader community, in order to promote intercultural understanding, tolerance and mutual respect.

The week kicked off on 15 August with a Diversity Opening Campaign during lunchtime outside the student kraal on NMMU’s South Campus, followed on Tuesday by a panel discussion between staff and students to discuss their cultural differences and stereotyping within their cultures.

This will be followed the next day by the Study Abroad Expo, organised to enlighten South African students of study abroad opportunities offered by the Office for International Education.

The week’s activities will culminate with the International Cultural Exhibition on 19 August in the student kraal from 09h00 to 13h00. Stalls will be set up around the venue where the participating international students will exhibit information, souvenirs, paraphernalia, and other items from their home countries and cultures.

Groups are encouraged to display artifacts, demonstrate their skills such as origami, henna tattoos etc and prepare dishes from their home country which will be available for tasting. In the past, for example, the French stall prepared pancakes and the Botswana stall served Mophane worms. Also included will be an international cultural fashion show, cultural tribal and Hip Hop dancing, performances by the VUDU Jazz Band, Oceana Choir, “CIZA tha Journalist” artists, Umngqungqu Wakwantu Dance Group, and a lot of prizes to be won.

In addition, as part of Diversity Month, a community dialogue on ‘Race, identity and nationhood’ with Neville Alexander will take place in Gelvandale on 18 August and a panel discussion with NMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Derrick Swartz, Prof Pedro Noguero of America and India’s Prof Chinna Rao on Wednesday, 24 August on the NMMU South Campus.

For more information on the International Diversity Week, contact Janine Wagenaar at tel: 041 504 4093.

A competition to design Diversity month t-shirts and buttons was held by the NMMU Centre for the Advancement of Non-racialism and Democracy (CANRAD) as part of the celebration of Diversity month. Displaying the winning t-shirt design are in front from left to right Sadiya Adams (CANRAD PR Intern); Chris Gee (T-shirt design winner) and Ray Snyman (Button Design Winner). At the back are Dana Pullen (NMMU Art and Design) and NMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Derrick Swartz.

Editors Notes: Is it just me or is celebrating ‘diversity’ just another way of highlighting differences and tension. Must you shine the light on the sleeping dog in the corner or wait for said dog to quietly snuff it?

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.