This post was updated May 22 at 3:32 p.m.

Turquoise-sequined costumes and dazzling lights adorned the setting for the Nigerian Student Association’s 17th annual culture show Friday evening in Ackerman Grand Ballroom.

Around 300 people attended the event, which highlighted Nigerian culture through traditional food, cultural attire and a variety of performances.

“Look for color, look for enjoyment, look for hard-hitting moves and facial expressions, because that’s what Nigerians are about,” said Gabrielle Ealefoh, a first-year neuroscience student and performer. “They’re about … being prideful of who they are and what they stand for.”

Unlike previous years, which typically included dances and a skit, this year’s performance consisted of a skit comprising a mixture of traditional Nigerian dances, West African dances and a boys’ dance, said Victor Chinedu, a fourth-year neuroscience student and the president of NSA. The show, titled “MAKE YOU SHINE YOUR EYES: The More You Look, The Less You See,” aimed to raise awareness of the experiences of Nigerian people.

The club spent the entire academic year organizing the show, said Ifeoluwa Odugbola, a board member of NSA. The performers practiced for several hours weekly for seven weeks in preparation for the night, she added.

“It’s nice that a lot of people came out today,” said Odugbola, who is a second-year biology student. “I’m so excited.”

Dwayne Clay III, a second-year psychology student and performer with NSA, said being part of the club’s main team last year inspired him to be a part of the cultural show. He added that since he joined the club, he fell in love with the community’s spirit, love and vulnerability.

NSA and its performances are not exclusive to Nigerian students, Odugbola said, adding that most members of NSA are not Nigerian. However, most of the club’smembers are of African descent, Chinedu added.

While the culture show featured dances from different ethnicities – such as Igbo, Yoruba and Edo – to showcase the versatility of Nigerian culture, it also included a “Neighbor’s Dance” encapsulating all the groups from countries bordering Nigeria, Chinedu said.

“It’s really stressful to live as an African American,” Clay said. “This is something that brings us back home, something that makes us feel comfortable, something that makes us feel loved.”

Kimora Hill, a second-year Korean language and culture and international development studies student who attended the culture night, said the event helped her feel seen as an African American student on campus.

“This means something to me because I haven’t been around too much people who look like me. So coming here, I feel at home,” she said. “I love that we have something like this.”

Michael Udo, a fourth-year political science student who attended the event, said he loved seeing the celebration of his culture and students learning more about it.

Hill added that she was impressed by the performances and the skillfulness of the dancers.

Kennedy Poarth, a first-year public affairs student and attendee, said the culture night brought students together and set their differences aside at a time of tension and polarity on campus.Clay added that he hopes the event united students while showing the strength and solidarity of NSA.

“We are one people, we love each other, we support each other, we have fun,” Clay said. “It’s a great thing to showcase for people to see who we really are and so that they know what we bring to the table. But at the same time, we don’t have to prove that.”