Story of PAPA

Initial Performances

The Penn African Performing Arts (PAPA) group was founded in fall of 2006., and had its first performances in spring of 2007: one at Kings Court/English House’s Africa Week; and the other at the Penn African Students Association’s Variety Show for their Africa Week. The group has featured at a number of cultural events on and off campus including Calabash, an annual African-Caribbean semi-formal; the 2008 Penn African Student Association Variety Show, Battle of the Curries, a cultural dance show; and invited performances at the African Studies Department’s African Scholar for the Day event in spring of 2008, Penn State Abington’s Caribbean Fest Celebrations in spring of 2008, the Restaurant School’s African Food exhibition on Inauguration Day, and West Catholic High School’s International Cultural Night in fall of 2008.

Recent Activities

Since fall 2008, PAPA has been working closely with the Christian Association in their African-related and community outreach efforts. The group has featured at all the Christian Association’s “Eat Your Way through Africa” Dinners, aimed at raising funds and awareness for the Christian Association’s Open Mind for Africa Program. The program is aimed at sponsoring students to undertake social work related projects in Africa. PAPA has also worked with the Christian Association’s “Peacemaking through the Arts” Program, where students go out to schools in the community, perform, and then teach students the performance.

PAPA also works with the Student Ambassadors of the World – Africa, and featured at their fund raising event in fall of 2007, and their Martin Luther King Event in conjunction with the Christian Association in spring of 2009.