Highlights

Here is a selection of PAPA performances and collaborations.
To get dates and times for events, email us at

PAPA dot Penn at Gmail dot Com

This was a full length musical performed in April 2009 in conjunction with West Philadelphia Catholic High School.

Synopsis

This show encompasses some of the different historical periods the African continent has gone through. The story is narrated by a grandfather to his granddaughter, in the age-old African tradition of storytelling. Following his travels and those of his parents, we see the different epochs of African history: pre-colonial, colonial, the independence era and present day. The format of the show is pseudo-musical.

Traditionally, song and dance play an important part in African storytelling, and both are woven into the show in a way that is distinct from the structure of the usual Western musical. It is impossible to capture the many different cultures in Africa in one show; however we attempt to present you with as many as we can by having a number of scenes set in different parts of Africa.

Eat Your Way Through Africa

Eat Your Way Through Africa is a collaboration between PAPA and the Christian Association that began in Fall 2008, intended to promote awareness of issues in contemporary Africa. PAPA provides entertainment to accompany the food and guest speakers.

Information from the CA

If you have yet to join us for a dinner you are missing out on a wonderfully enriching cultural experience. In addition to Nigeria we have featured Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, and Liberia. The idea for these dinners came as part of our developing the Open Mind for Africa program in honor of Dr. Louise Shoemaker. Dr. Shoemaker’s personal and professional interest in Africa has prompted her to work for systemic change in Nigeria as well as raise two boys from Sudan. Part of our motivation for the Open Mind for Africa is to create awareness, and stimulate interest, in African culture and issues in the Penn community. What better way to begin to understand a new culture than through the sharing of food and music?

For each dinner we have served authentic dishes exposing everyone to new ingredients and flavor combinations. PAPA has performed songs that provide a glimpse into each country’s culture. We have had slide shows of pictures taken by those who have visited the different countries. There are also short talks from native students and faculty at Penn, as well as from other members of the Penn community who have traveled, lived, and worked abroad in Africa. Each dinner has its own unique feel, which reflects the differences in the countries being featured. Plenty of time is provided for guests to visit and hang out at the CA House.