Africa meets Wagga in the first ever Miss Wafrica contest this weekend.
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The pageantry event is all about showcasing the beauty and diversity of the African culture. Patricia Layweh moved to Australia from Liberia 13 years ago and has lived in Wagga for nine.
“Africa is a continent with so many different countries, about 54, and as we live in Wagga we try to come together as one big cultural family and celebrate each other,” she said.
“The more we come together, the more we learn about each other and we want to share this with the Wagga community.”
At this weekend’s event, Ms Layweh said they will dress in their African clothes.
“It doesn’t matter who wins, we are just going to have fun and enjoy it,” she said.
The Wagga African Association, commonly referred to as Wafrica, is hosting the pageant event to showcase the diversity of their culture.
Samuel Avo, president of Wafrica, said the event name Mrembo Africa is Swahili for ‘a beautiful Africa’.
“The community called for something similar in 2014 and it was the community award night and it was well received,” he said.
“Ever since then, people have been calling for an event and this year we have put a twist by organising a Miss Wafrica pageantry.
“It’s to give a voice to one of our beautiful women to be an ambassador for our nation in this community.”
Mr Avo is hoping to make this a yearly event.
“People can lock it and it will grow bigger and better,” he said.
“We have several performances, there will be drumming, acrobatics, singing and comedy and I am told a very delicious three-course meal.”
"As we live in Wagga, we try to come together as one big cultural family and celebrate each other."
- Patricia Layweh
Mr Avo said Wafrica is an organisation that is almost 10 years old.
“It has grown and those refugees and those migrants have settled in the community, they are not refugees anymore so we have opened it up to everyone,” he said.
“Some people when you talk about Africa assume it is just one big country and we all have the same culture, but there are several countries and within each country is different dialects and different traditions.”
The “Mrembo Africa Night” is this Saturday at Commercial Club. Tickets are available from Mr Avo on 0417 442 952.
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