SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY HOSTS NUMBER OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A number of events are on tap at Southeast Missouri State University to celebrate Black History Month.

A Gospel Explosion Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Academic Auditorium, university officials said.

The Black Student Fellowship Choir will host the concert, which will involve both university students and members of local churches. Admission is $1 for students, faculty and staff, and $2 for the general public.

Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is sponsoring its annual Black History Month essay contest for university students. A scholarship will be awarded to the first place winner.

SANKOFA, an African-American music ensemble, will be on campus for five days, beginning Sunday, university officials said.

The group plays a mixture of jazz, reggae, samba, calypso and hilife music.

The word SANKOFA comes from West Africa. It is the name given to a beautiful, mythical bird that flies forward, but constantly looks over its shoulder to the past.

The group will perform a concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Academic Auditorium.

Dr. William Komla Amoakua, the leader and originator of the group, will be a guest lecturer Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Brandt Hall of Music, Room 205. Amoakua, a Ghanaian by birth, is chairman of the department of music at Central State University in Ohio.

A black history quiz will be held Feb. 25 at the University Center. Winners will receive scholarship money.

A graduate school seminar will be held Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in the University Center. It will focus on "The Decline of Minorities Entering Graduate Schools."

The seminar will also provide information about admittance to graduate school and what types of financial aid are available, university officials said.

The celebration of Black History Month on campus officially kicked off at noon Wednesday in the University Center lobby with a tribute to key black leaders. The tribute was presented by Southeast students.

Although February is Black History Month, Southeast's celebration of black history will actually culminate with a March 4 presentation by Yolanda King, the daughter of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Show Me Center. King's performance will blend poetry, prose and dramatic monologues.

Admission will be $1 for students, faculty and staff, and $2 for the general public.