Cleveland State students from across campus attended the Campus Activities Board’s Afrobeats Nite, Sept. 22, in the Glasscock Ballroom at the Student Center.

The event started by blasting Burna Boy onto the dance floor and shining vibrant colored lights throughout the ballroom. CAB also provided guests with food from Yum Village, a restaurant near campus that makes soul food with a unique Afro-Caribbean style.

This dance party was inspired by a previous event that was popular among students called Emo night. The idea for Afrobeats Nite stemmed from Afrobeats growing in global popularity over the last decade, after it was initially developed in Ghana and Nigeria in the late 1990s to mid-2000s.   

“We chose this event not just for students, but because we wanted international students to enjoy and experience this unique take on Afro,” said Rayna Reid, CAB’s Diversity Chairwoman. 

To ensure this goal, Reid chose foods ranging from sweet to spicy, including plantains, jerk chicken and maafe, a stew made from peanuts or groundnuts. 

During the event, students had the opportunity to take part in a raffle when they first arrived. The prizes included a Burna Boy T-shirt, a Rema Poster and two Bluetooth speakers.

Students were eager to take a shot at winning one of the prizes.

“When my friends persuaded me to come to this place, never did I expect it to be such a blast,” said Eureka Portillo, a CSU Junior. “Events such as this are why me and my friends started to go more often recently.”

The next events hosted by the Campus Activities Board are all in correlation with CSU’s second annual spirit week, starting Oct. 2 with a T-shirt giveaway and cupcakes.