During the coldest month of the year, in one of the coldest states of the country, a group of African college students chose not to spend their time simply “warming up by the fire.” Instead, they threw a wedding — a Fake African Wedding — on Jan. 27, 2024. Immersed in the heat of throwback Afrobeats songs, lively dancing that drew crowds and spirited live performances, they embraced the warmth and vibrant essence only an African wedding celebration could provide.
The African Students Association, fondly referred to as “ASA,” brought together members from five different colleges across Michigan. They convened at Divine Providence in Southfield, Michigan to mark a significant occasion: A Fake African Wedding, the state’s inaugural event of its kind. Anticipations were high as pre-event interviews revealed that guests were looking forward to a good time, great music, and most importantly, the opportunity to connect with other Africans from various schools. Needless to say, the Fake African Wedding would prove to be exactly that and more.
Starting at 6 p.m., attendees trickled in from the five schools participating: the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, Wayne State University and University of Detroit Mercy. In an interview with The Daily, Oriekaose Agholor, ASA president at the University of Detroit Mercy, explained that although the true crowd would only gather fashionably late around 9 p.m., organizers had been at the location since 1 p.m.
“We wanted everything to be perfect for our guests,” Agholor said. “So we needed to be there early to set up.”
And indeed, the hard work of the organizers shone through. The wedding hall showcased an extravagant photo booth, adorned with curtains of orange, ivory and gold — the royal colors of the night. Against the backdrop of the photo booth reading “Better Together,” attendees captured the night’s essence under the glimmer of selfie sticks, flashing cameras and fluorescent ring lights. This phrase symbolized the wedding theme permeating the air and underscored the unity among the colleges — now, better together.
Guests capture precious moments at the entrance of the photo booth. Courtesy of Trax Joshua/ASA.
Once the performances began, the “wedding” truly took off. The first performance featured a dance troupe from Michigan State University, who displayed a scintillating choreography to modern Afro-pop and Afrobeats rhythms. Following this, the band, consisting of a pianist, bass guitarist, drummer, background singers and a live saxophonist, serenaded and energized guests with acoustic renditions of popular Afrobeats songs, infusing the night with a unique artistic charm. Soon, the hall was filled with a sea of raised phones, ready to film their “I Went to a Fake African Wedding” recaps and Instagram story highlights.
The venue’s vibrant decor and the band’s musical prowess paled in comparison to the true stars of the evening: the wedding attendees themselves. Guests arrived dressed in dramatic, glowing colors, delicately woven kente fabric, flowy boubous, bedazzled corsets, feathered fans and sparkling gele matched with Ankara — all customary pieces for a wedding of such grandeur. Midway through the event, an impromptu “Best Dressed” competition broke out and, as you would imagine, it took hours before the judges selected a winner.
Courtesy of Sory Keita and Trax Joshua/ASA.
Curious to know where they got their garments from, I approached several guests. Many, like LSA senior Kobby Nyankson, senior in Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience, revealed they had “ordered it specifically for this event.” Other adventurous, even more intrepid guests like Art & Design junior Elsa Olander would tell me they custom-made their outfits and jewelry. By hand. I could only respond with exclaimed eyes and deep claps — in awe at the meticulous planning and immeasurable creativity behind each outfit.
However, it wasn’t until the bridal party made their grand entrance that I realized the true splendor of the event unfolding. Their entrance was a stellar mix of intricate planning and fantastic improvisation. Dancing in pairs and trios to timeless wedding classics, such as “Duro” by Tekno and “Aye” by Davido, the bridal party’s attire radiated sophistication, as the groomsmen’s flowing white Agbadas complemented the bridesmaids’ orange aṣọ-ẹbi (pronounced ah-sho-eh-bi; ceremonial clothing, customary to Nigerian weddings).
This was elevated even further by the arrival of the bride and groom, imbued with a sense of glamor and prestige that one would expect from the couple celebrating their union (It was hard to imagine that no one was actually getting married because all the details made it seem all too believable). The bride in particular seemed to relish this spotlight, enchanting and winning the attention of many in the crowd.
As the live band yielded to a DJ, the once-calm atmosphere transitioned to an energetic showdown. All initial layers of prim and proper had been replaced with pulsating dance moves, beads of sweat and exuberant exclamations, all fueled by the DJ’s eclectic music selection. I use this choice of words very intentionally, as it is the only way to accurately reflect the palpable exchange of energy that happened on the dance floor.
In staying true to the customary African wedding traditions, there was also an endless showering of money throughout the evening — a gesture of respect, jubilation, and celebration. Though I must admit, in our case, not all the money present was “real” — we were still college students, after all — the tradition remained intact and was joyously celebrated throughout the night.
However, all that being said, no event is without its flaws. While it was celebrated as the first of its kind, many guests expressed a desire for more. As Lizzy Junaid, a sophomore studying Women and Gender Studies on the pre-med track said, “If the point was to showcase African culture, it fell short … because it was more of a club and not a wedding. There (were) no groom’s parents, no bride’s parents … they should have just called it a party, not a wedding.”
Numerous guests would also complain about the food, many describing it as “undercooked” or “not enough” — a big shame as African weddings are customarily known to have the most delectable food. Perhaps these notes will shape the organizers’ future events, ensuring that the high expectations are met, or better yet, surpassed.
Nonetheless, for what it stood for, the Fake African Wedding and the organizers behind it must be applauded. Throughout the event, I wondered how they managed to bring it all together. Organizing an event for one college is no easy feat, let alone all five. When I asked LSA sophomore Oreoluwa Adewumi, event coordinator at U-M ASA, seeking answers, she told me it was all the handiwork of the five presidents of the respective schools.
“I had talked about it in the past,” LSA junior Chinyere Amasiatu confirmed, president of the University of Michigan ASA. “ … But I was not sure if we would have the resources to until Nadia reached out to us and was like we gotta make this happen.”
Intrigued, I spoke with Nadia Olanrewaju, president of ASA for Eastern Michigan University, and delved deeper into her reasoning behind the event. “As president this year, I felt I needed to make a change; I wanted to do more collabs with schools … So I DM’ed all of the presidents on Instagram over the summer, and asked if (they) wanted to do it … It’s crazy because we had never met in person — everything was literally on Zoom — so this would be nothing without the (dedication of the) presidents and their E-boards.”
Beyond bringing the numerous schools together, this event was instrumental in reconciling Africa and its diaspora. LSA sophomore Jerianne Clark, studying Afro-American and African Studies, served as a bridesmaid for the event. During our conversation, she shared details about her outfit, a unique blend of pieces sourced from different parts of the world, and her eagerness to share her Caribbean heritage through it. “My dress (was) made and imported from Nigeria … my jewelry from Alex + Ani and Jam+Rico — you know I always have to represent the Caribbean.”
Similarly, LSA junior Bryan Berteaux III, an African American Junior on the pre-med track, also told me how excited he was to be there, as he had heard about “African weddings going crazy,” and was eager to see it for himself. The event served as a poignant reminder, especially during Black History Month, of the importance of embracing Black joy, pride and success, within the continent of Africa and beyond.
The Fake African Wedding was a celebration of all students of African descent: our ability to create, collaborate and bring something new to life. It celebrates a culture that is ours and is us — a true testament to our collective, and might I add beautiful, heritage. It was such a pleasure to participate and collate the experiences of the night.
And as for the next event? You may have to keep an eye on the African Students Association’s Instagram page. I know I will be.
MiC Assistant Editor Ayeyi Asamoah-Manu can be reached at ayeyiyp@umich.edu.