Nigerian Taiwo Adeleye opened the downtown Lansing restaurant Tatse so other African immigrants would have a place to socialize while celebrating their culture.
There are some definite days whenhis restaurant proves there was a need for a restaurant like his. He looks around, usually during the weekend shifts, and feels like he's found a home as other Africans dine under his roof, enjoying his food.
Now, he wants to do something bigger for Lansing's African community and others with a curiosity to learn more about different cultures.
"I've seen people come in (Tatse) and they just want to eat African food and I see white people and I share the culture," Adeleye said. "So I feel like this event should bring people from Kalamazoo, from around Lansing to downtown, which is very good for downtown."
The event is free to attend, but Afroball and the nightly parties require tickets. Adeleye's restaurant is hosting the 8 p.m. Friday Afroball fashion show. Creations with African textiles will be showcased while people feast on a three-course African-style meal. Tickets are $50.
Celebrity stylist Oliver Brown and Michigan State University Professor Dennis Ikpe are two of the few guests of honor at the Afroball fashion show.
"The fashion show is about showing the style of Africa to showcase how Africans use the textile to mobilize it into different outfits that you can comfortably wear casually or formally," Adeleye said.
He wants to teach others more about Lansing's small but diverse African community.
DJs Rexyo and Marine will exclusively play Afrobeats music at the Friday and Saturday afterparties. The Afrobeat Friday night afterparty is $10 and the Afrofest Saturday night party cost $20.
Child welfare nonprofit Nyakawill be awarded the African Excellence Award at Afroball, Adeleye said. It has helped Ugandan children access healthy foods and clean water and placed them in free educational programming. The nonprofit also connects women whose children died from HIV/AIDS with others for support.
