Horizons Club Hosts Annual Culture Fest

The Cultural Fest, the biggest event organized by the Horizon Club, will bring together students from Ohio Wesleyan University to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions, and histories represented on campus on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cultural Fest gives students the opportunity not only to represent their own cultures but also to enjoy the diversity at Ohio Wesleyan University. 

Zena Fakir has been attending the festival since her freshman year and plans to attend for the fourth time this year. Having grown up in Egypt, she enjoys telling other students about her country and wearing traditional clothing to the event. 

Speaking about what makes Cultural Fest different from other events, Fakir said, “I think because this is the biggest event on the campus. Everyone is working together from different places in the world, and we try to do our best to make it look good so everyone can enjoy it.” 

Performances are another essential part of the festival, allowing students to share their culture from a deeper, more personal perspective. 

Muzhda Azizi has performed poetry at Cultural Fest several times and has used her performances to present Afghan culture. 

“Because in the US, there are so many stereotypes about Afghan culture. I want to show the good side of it to people in an artistic way.” 

In her previous performances, Azizi used poetry to address themes such as women and war. She plans to include poetry again this year and do something that represents her culture and connects with other students. 

The Horizon Club wants to make participation open to students from diverse cultural backgrounds, rather than limiting it to specific countries or types of performances. 

“We don't exclude any cultures, so anyone who wants to sign up to express their culture, like singing, dancing, reading, or doing poetry, they can,” said Horizon Club president Jordan Lewis.  

This gives students a space for self-expression and the opportunity to decide how they want to represent their culture.

Cultural Fest also creates a space where students can get to know one another outside of the classroom on campus. 

Yegor Sorokin, who works with OWU international students, serves as an advisor to the Horizon Club. He believes that attending the festival helps students not only learn about traditions but also build new friendships. 

“I think they learn about each other, they get to know each other, they learn about different cultures and traditions.”  

Cultural Fest brings together the many cultures, traditions, and personal stories that shape the Ohio Wesleyan University community. It gives students a chance to experience that diversity through the people they see on campus every day.