INFORMATION FOR
Music, poetry, and comedy will support theme of “Urban Living: African Roots,” William Paterson University’s annual African Heritage celebration in February. Most events are free and open to the public. Events scheduled include:
Saturday, February 6Dixie Hummingbirds: The GrammyAward-winning, Philadelphia-based Dixie Hummingbirds will perform at Shea Center for Performing Arts. While they have always remained deeply rooted in the gospel tradition, their influence has made itself known far and wide in American popular music. Their appearance at Shea Center is part of the William Paterson University Gospel Festival. Special guest Scott O. Cumberbatch, a 2007 graduate of William Paterson and director of the music ministry for Trinity Baptist Church of Hackensack, NJ, opens the concert, followed by the William Paterson Gospel Choir directed by Michael Butler and Lorraine Stancil, a gospel singer who made her first recorded appearance with the youth choir of the Bible Way Church in Paterson. Her latest CD is Holy is the Lamb. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Admission: Gold Circle $40, Orchestra $30, Loge $20. For tickets, call the Shea Center Box Office at 973-720-2371.
Saturday, February 6Open Mic Night Student Center Takeover: Yannick Ladson, a former William Paterson University staff member, who now performs comedy under the name Yannick Yasmine, will host a night of comedy, student performances and fun. The event will be held in the Multipurpose Room in the John Victor Machuga Student Center from 9 p.m. to midnight. Sponsored by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Addiction Services. Admission is free. Tuesday, February 16 Urban Politics: A lecture by Michaela Angela Davis, a cultural critic and writer, who has been exploring the power of urban style, race, gender, and hip-hop for nearly two decades. A Q&A session will follow the lecture. Light refreshments will be served. The program will be held in the Multipurpose Room in the Machuga Student Center from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free. This event is sponsored by the African Heritage Celebration Committee, and was funded by the Student Government Organization. Thursday, February 18 Sarafina! The Sound of Freedom: A film about a teacher and her students in South Africa in 1985 during the time known as “The State of Emergency,” “Sarafina” is a fictional adaptation of real events. The program will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room in the Machuga Student Center. Admission is free. This event is sponsored by the African Heritage Celebration Committee, and was funded by the Student Government Organization. Sunday, February 28 African Heritage Mass and Celebration: The program will be held in the Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Chapel at 7:30 p.m.
