Join the MTSU community Wednesday, Nov. 30, to celebrate the musical and culinary culture of Africa with a spirited party promoting study-abroad opportunities.

African Cultural Awareness Night is slated for 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Tom Jackson Building.

A printable campus parking map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap.

Students who participated in last year’s study-abroad course in the west African nation of Senegal will describe their experiences.

Dr. Thomas Bynum

Dr. Aliou Ly

“This course is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the history and the culture of the Senegalese people and Africa in general,” said Dr. Thomas Bynum, director of MTSU’s African-American Studies Program and an associate professor of history.

Dr. Aliou Ly, an assistant professor of history, accompanied several students on the 14-day trip last year. Students who sign up for the study-abroad opportunity can earn three credit hours toward their degree requirements.

Encompassing an area slightly smaller than the state of South Dakota, Senegal has an estimated population of more than 14 million people.

The Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook notes that Senegal “remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa” and has a history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation.

Attendees at African Cultural Awareness Night will be treated to Senegalese music and traditional African food.

The free public event is sponsored by the African-American Studies Program and MTSU’s Black Faculty and Staff Association.

For more information, contact Bynum at 615-898-2760 or thomas.bynum@mtsu.edu or Ly at 615-898-2627 or aliou.ly@mtsu.edu.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)