As Black History Month comes to an end, various student groups at U of T collaborated to present the second production of VIBE on Tuesday at Hart House, an event marking the celebration and reflection of black history, culture and identity. It was a hit.

“I would love to do it all over again,” said Nana-Aba Duncan, a student who co-produced the show along with executive producer Liza Miller.

The show was sold out at a capacity of 450 people, and they were turning people away at the door. Duncan performed an Anansi storytelling, from a series of Ghanaian folk tales.

“I really liked the reception of the audience and how they were willing to participate in the story,” she said.

“Having a show like VIBE on campus will contribute to making the black community at U of T more cohesive,” said executive producer Liza Miller, a week before the show.

After, Duncan said the show was successful. “This was a chance for all of the [black student] groups to get to know each other and meet each other and work as a team. It makes each group visible to the other.” The event did a good job of connecting the St. George campus to the Mississauga campus, according to Duncan.

“Eye + Eye,” a.k.a. Chinedu Ukabam, was part of this year’s lineup of talents and also performed in VIBE 2001. “I was very impressed last year with what they were able to do in a short amount of time and with such limited funds.” The event was funded by the Student Administrative Council and the U of T Race Relations and Anti-racism Initiatives Office.

An executive member of BSA (Black Students’ Association) in his final year of Computer Science, Chinedu believes VIBE is an opportunity to not only showcase but also raise awareness of black artists in Toronto. “The event illustrates the diversity of black culture, bringing together African and Caribbean elements.”

The mixture of artists that performed on Tuesday exemplified the different dynamics that make up black culture and history.

“It’s a chance to share our talents with the U of T community,” said Motion, a local hip hop artist and U of T alumni.

Chinedu believes student organizations such as BSA, the West Indian Students’ Association (WISA) and the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) have all organized initiatives to promote awareness and recognition of black culture and identity on campus.

“It’s a large community and there is a lot of room to grow. The challenge is getting people interested and involved. VIBE can set a tone for the rest of the year,” he said.

For Chinedu, Black History Month is not just about celebration; it is also a time for reflection. Motion feels it is an introspective time.

“It gives people a chance to say, ‘This is what we are, what we can be.'”

Miller believes appreciation of black culture and identity should go beyond the month of February. “Student groups need to ensure that black history and culture is supported all year around.”

L. Dean Ifill, performer and a consulting producer for the event, said, “The people involved on stage are all doing their part to create black history in Canada. Presenting VIBE at such a highly regarded university says a lot about how black culture has evolved within the Toronto community.”

While diversity is an evident component of life at U of T, Liza Miller, Chinedu Ukabam and Motion agree that black identity needs a stronger presence within the student body, faculty and academic programs.

L. Dean Ifill says, “There needs to be a consistency that grows out of VIBE. Events like this need to be continued throughout the U of T community.”