VSU Celebrates 13th Annual Sankofa Celebration

VALDOSTA – Valdosta will celebrate cultural diversity and appreciation at its 13^th Annual Sankofa Celebration at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, at the Student Union Theater.

The theme for the celebration is “Inclusion at Valdosta State: A Continuous Celebration.” Hosted by VSU’s African American Studies (AFAM) program, the celebration will include a presentation of the Spring 2014, Summer 2014 and Fall 2014 VSU graduates. The AFAM program will then recognize the AFAM Teacher of the Year, AFAM Student of the Year, AFAM Mentor of the Year and Sankofa Award recipient.

Sankofa is a West African word that means “looking back in order to move forward.” According to African proverbs, the Sankofa bird symbol symbolizes going back in time to remember what has been forgotten so that progress can be made. Sankofa celebrations are held in various settings as a way of highlighting spiritual consciousness and experiences within African and African American cultures that have helped to shape them.

Students who are participating in Sankofa should arrive at 6 p.m. for line up. For more information about Sankofa, please contact the AFAM office at (229) 249-4843.