Last night I attended one of the student run fashion shows, Ubuntu. The show was suppose to be set in Mansa Musa’s Court prior to western colonisation. The vision was to recover the narrative of a strong, powerful, and flourishing African prior to the confines of slavery and western imperialism. The show was thought provoking, inspiring, and surprisingly a great example of transnational history.
To elaborate, the Ubuntu contained elements of dance, spoken word, and fashion. All the designers featured in the show were from either the Caribbean or of African descent. The word itself, ‘Ubuntu’ means togetherness. So fittingly, the show was designed to bring together everyone in the audience as well as the show committee, despite colour, gender, or nationality. From the African dances, to some of the poems featured in the show, many different cultures and traditions mixed on stage connecting some audience members to their heritage while concurrently introducing others to a unfamiliar culture.
Looking at elements of Ubuntu piece by piece, I cannot help but to see all the transnational links within the show. For example, the models in the show additionally represented a range of African countries. I found it completely inspiring that this one fashion show in the middle of a Scottish seaside town could host so many different colours and nationalities on its stage. Looking around the crowd last night, it was one of the only events in St Andrews I can say was truly diverse. It was pretty amazing to see so many different people congregating together to celebrate African culture. Recollecting on this, I find it amazing that there are actually two level of transnationalism going on. (1) the obvious culminating of many different African nations being celebrated on a stage in St Andrews, and (2) the different nationalities from American, French, Russian, Venezuelan and so many more coming together to celebrate this African culture that they are not even a part of. To have so much pride for a culture that is not even nationally yours is pretty astounding. I think it showed a deeper understanding that the students of St Andrews are just so happy to celebrate diversity and recover the lost narrative of Africa.
In a way, this is proof that the world is changing. People want to celebrate different nations. It is desired to be diverse and different. Students want to see more ethnically diverse faces up on stage than the usual sea of white. This little micro-history case study of an African fashion show in St Andrews is proof of the desire to be transnational. While some people in the crowd grew up listening to the African music pumping through Club 601, most of us did not. However, hearing these traditional African songs and watching these dances take place, it showed people want to be informed. I found myself incredibly proud of the performances I was watching, despite the fact I have no ethnic connection to Africa. I think people were moved that a minority culture such as African heritage in St Andrews could organise an entire show, and sell out a room. People were proud Ubuntu was finally getting its deserved facetime to show St Andrews what African culture was really about. Sixty years ago, it would be unheard of to have students pay money to go and watch traditional African dances. But, now in 2019, Ubuntu was a sold out show, with people wanting to take part in this new culture and inform themselves. This desire to understand African culture is not just a win for history, it is a win for transnationalism as a discipline. People want to understand global connections and want to become more knowledgeable world citizens.