Ornate feather headdresses, pastel-colored hanfus, and bamboo Tinikling poles stood out amongst a crowd encircled by an array of ethnic food vendors. The smell of tamales, kabobs, and banh mis drifted off the paper plates of excited students as they sat in the grass around the stage, eagerly awaiting the next cultural performance.
Students gather to dance during Buyepongo’s performance.
On May 18, dozens of students, community members, and organizers came together at the Oakes Lower Lawn to celebrate the 42nd annual Multicultural Festival (MCF) at UC Santa Cruz. The event allows students of color to share cultures, traditions, and political education.
“[The MCF] is important because it’s a space for us to be us,” said Jessica*, a third-year in attendance. “Sometimes [students of color] walk into a predominantly white institution and don’t feel welcomed. We get to feel welcomed when we are with not only our own people, but others who also understand the struggle.”
This year’s theme, “The People United Will Forever Be Ignited,” encompassed the political and celebratory messaging of the MCF. Members of the planning committee expressed a goal of fostering an event that highlights the experiences of students of color.
Dancers from the Haluan Hip Hop Dance Troupe, a student dance group under Bayanihan.
“Within our weekly meetings, we always talked about what is happening on campus and around the world and how we can incorporate it into our event,” said Shaya Robinson, a member of the MCF planning committee. “We always talk about struggles such as food, housing, or what’s going on in Palestine right now. We keep those conversations open and listen to each other.”
The MCF program consisted of raffles, shoutouts to different campus organizations, and cultural performances. As the stage bustled with colorful costumes and dynamic music, cultural and Greek life organizations tabled and sold food.
Dancers from Kalanjali, a Bharatanatyam dance team from UCSC.
Productions from Raas Rangeela, Han Chinese Traditional Clothing, Sabrosura Latin Dance Troupe, Isang Himig, Kalanjali at UCSC, and many others made for a beautiful display of cultures at the festival.
Raas Rangeela is a UCSC dance troupe under the Indian Student Association (ISA) that performs raas, a traditional folk dance from the Indian state of Gujarat. The vibrance and energy of Raas Rangeela’s performance exhilarated the crowd.
“Even though the dancing we do is traditional to a specific region in India, people from all parts of India and people who are not from India come and join our performance team,” said choreography captain Reva Samant. “In that sense, it embodies ideas from different cultures and different groups. Even though it’s a folk dance, it’s kind of a multicultural dance form.”
Buyepongo, a Los Angeles-based contemporary pan-Latin band was the show’s headliner. The band’s members come from migrant families, cultivating a sound which takes influence from music worldwide.
A performer from Buyepongo,
an Afro polyrythmic fusion band
based in Los Angeles.
“[Our music] is multicultural, multilateral in so many different ways,” said Edgar Modesto, founding member and percussionist of Buyepongo. “When we were there, we got to see different organizations from so many different backgrounds and everyone having a good time supporting each other — that’s exactly what we’re about.”
Organizer Shaya Robinson reflected on the mission of MCF and its impact on students.
“We are of different cultures, of different backgrounds coming together to share,” Robinson said. “It’s a day where we get to share our identities and celebrate with each other, which I think is beautiful. It makes me happy to see the performances, food, and everyone out here learning and having fun.”
Editor’s note: Jessica did not provide a last name.
