Southwest Open School served a Nigerian dinner on Wednesday, May 20, as part of its yearlong Common Read.
The evening program was organized around the novel “Purple Hibiscus.” Diners sampled egusi soup, fufu, coconut rice and other dishes prepared with imported ingredients such as garri, crayfish powder, and pounded yam. About 30 students, staff and family members, attended.
Five Nigerian Catholic seminarians were guests at the event. Kevin Okafor, Martin Okwudiba, Julian Anyaegbu, Justin Okpalaobi, and Simon Peter Mbata are students of St. Andrew’s Seminary in Denver, but are living in Cortez in connection with the Montelores Catholic Community.
SWOS director Jennifer Carter said that the presence of “our Nigerian guests” gave students a rare opportunity to interact with people from a different culture.”
Twelve students volunteered to serve food, set up the dining room, and clean up afterward. The evening program began with Brittni Ward, a graduating senior, reading a passage from Purple Hibiscus. After the food was served diners watched a TED Talk by the book’s author, titled “The danger of a single story.” The discussion that followed touched on Nigeria’s political history, how cultural stereotypes begin and endure, and how universal aspects of the human condition make the lives of the Igbo characters in Purple Hibiscus resonate with readers in Montezuma County.
The event was funded by an Expelled and At Risk Student Services grant.
