“Shades of Black,” the most popular and well-known cultural event hosted by the University of Idaho, will return for its ninth year this February.
Kwapi Vengesayi, a UI alumnus, created the event in 2003 and presented it for the first time in January 2004.
“U of I didn’t have an event that really brought everyone together,” Vengesayi said. “We didn’t have an event at the time that was really unifying, not just in the black community, but in the larger community.”
Eddy Ruiz, director of Multicultural Affairs, said the event is focused on cultural diversity and awareness as well as celebration and the presentation of students’ cultures and backgrounds.
“It’s really showcasing the rich African and African American culture,” Ruiz said. “That highlights one of the important things that we do here, which is basically trying to provide not only entertainment, but also a form of education so that our students are exposed to the diversity that really exists in our nation.”
The event features performers of diverse backgrounds and cultures, and welcomes different races, genders, religions, sexual orientations and politics.
“You don’t have to be black to be a part of Shades of Black,” Vengesayi said. “I always tell people, you don’t have to be black to have a black experience.”
The theme for this year’s show is “Here I Stand.” Vengesayi said he chose the theme because it encompasses a variety of ideas and cultures.
“It’s a theme that’s kind of connected, it touches on the idea that when you’re standing just looking around, you’re trying to take in everything that’s going on around you,” Vengesayi said. “Whether or not it’s in your relationship, in your love life, in politics, society — whether or not it’s something mundane or something profound — you know it’s just that moment when you’re standing there, just looking around. That defining moment when you stop and breathe.”
Shades of Black has become a regional celebration of culture and has expanded to include students from a number of universities around the Northwest.
Vengesayi hosted auditions at UI, Washington State University and Eastern Washington University. However, students from across the region, including Oregon and Western Washington, auditioned to be a part of the show as well.
Performances include modern to classic art, dance, music, poetry or any other form of expression. In 2011, the show even included native Hawaiian dances, as well as performances from Latin groups.
“It’s a high-packed, high-energy show,” said Leathia Botello, coordinator for Multicultural Programs. “There’ll be dancers, there’ll be gospels, spoken word. Students get excited. It’s one of our most well-attended events on campus.”
Botello said because the event has become such a success, the Office of Multicultural Affairs has stepped in to fund it. Previously, funds supporting the event were raised by Vengesayi and a variety of departments on campus.
“The Office of Multicultural Affairs is now contracting with Kwapi to put on his show, Shades of Black,” Botello said. “OMA stepped in because we wanted to keep having this event free and open to students.”
Last year more than 400 students and community members attended, and event coordinators are expecting that number to increase.
Ruiz said he has had a number of students approach him about the event, and 395 students have already confirmed attendance at the event while 100 more have responded “maybe” on the show’s Facebook page.
As the event continues to expand, Vengesayi has begun to look into alternate venues to host future shows.
“The problem with the University of Idaho is that there’s no venue between the size of the (Student Union Building) Ballroom and the size of the Kibbie Dome,” Vengesayi said “Depending on how funding works out, who decides to foot the bill, Shades of Black might end up at Beasley Coliseum at WSU. WSU has wanted Shades of Black for a number of years.”
Although Vengesayi would like to keep the event on the University of Idaho campus, lack of an adequate location on campus may cause the event to move next year.
“It’s nice to see someone from the U of I that has created something that is entertaining and educational but also wanting to keep it here,” Ruiz said. “That’s one thing he always says, if there’s one place he’s never going to give it up on, it’s here, at the U of I. He’s a Vandal through and through.”
Ruiz, who is new to the university, said he is looking forward to attending the show for the first time.
“Everyone says this is the highlight event that we have on campus in terms of cultural activities — really well thought out, planned, choreographed, everything,” Ruiz said.
The show will take place Feb. 11 in the SUB Ballroom. Doors will open at 5:30 and the show is free to all students and community members.
“Awareness and celebration. Accommodation of differences. We want students to be engaged, to see diversity, to see the importance of diversity,” Ruiz said.