Rice University’s Middle Eastern and North African Student Association (MENA) celebrated the rich customs of its student members’ traditions during Sahra Night, held at the Rice Memorial Center’s Grand Hall April 26.
The annual showcase gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their heritages’ culture and cuisine. It customarily takes place during April to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month and display the many vibrant people who comprise the Rice community.
This year, more than 100 attendees joined for a variety of activities as well as to dine on Middle Eastern food. Watan Dabke Group showed the audience how to join hands and partake in Dabke, a traditional Arab line dance. Afterward, members strutted the runway during a fashion show to showcase different global cultural apparels.
MENA is a student-led organization committed to creating an inclusive environment for Middle Eastern and North African students. Its mission is to celebrate the members’ global identity and culturally enrich the Rice community through various social events.