International Festival and Fair 2008

Oxford International Festival and Fair 2008

The Oxford International Festival was held for the first time this year in Week 7 of Hilary Term. This week-long cultural extravaganza was organised by the International Students’ Campaign of the Oxford University Student Union as a celebration of the talent and diversity of the University and city of Oxford.

The Festival began with a five-day showcase of events with an international focus hosted by individual societies. Highlights included a Beer Tasting jointly organised by the Oxford University German and Russian Societies, a Mandarin Writing Class held by Oxford Chinese International Awareness, an Egyptian Dance Class by the Raqs Sharqi Society, a community-based group, and the One World Show, organised by the Oxford University United Nations Association, Oxford Aegis and Oxford United World Colleges, to raise funds for Fund4Darfur, a project of the Aegis Trust.

The week’s events culminated in the grand finale of the Festival – the day-long International Fair held in the ARCO Building of Keble College on 1 March. We were extremely privileged to have Dr Heather Bell, Director of International Strategy for the University, and her three-year-old daughter, Julie, to welcome everyone to the event. In her address, Dr Bell described how the University of Oxford has admitted international students for more than eight centuries, as well as how the University continues to be an international institution with students from more than 139 countries and an ever-increasing number of international collaborations. She went on to underscore the University’s commitment to an international outlook and its desire to attract students of the highest calibre from all over the world. An excited Julie concluded her mother’s already brief speech by declaring “’nuff said!” – she seemed keen to move on to exploring the Fair!

The Fair featured a variety of performances on the World Stage ranging from Indonesian gamelan music by the Oxford Gamelan Society and Brazilian capoeira by Abolição Oxford Capoeira to African gumboots dancing by the Oxford Gumboots Troupe and Japanese kyogen drama by a group from the Oriental Institute under the direction of a Japanese professor from the University of Waseda in Tokyo. Other highlights included a ceilidh performance and workshop by the Oxford University Scottish Dance Society, excerpts from a play by the Oxford University Chinese Drama Society, a salsa performance by the award-winning Oxford University Salsa Society and the launch of a new all-male singing group, Tuna Universitaria de Oxford, who presented popular songs from Mexico, Spain, Portugal and Argentina, and got everyone singing along with them! These groups were far more than just acts on stage. With their beautiful costumes and multi-lingual conversations, performers added to the richness of the Fair by mingling with visitors, watching other performances, or in the case of the Gumboots Troupe, by being inspired to have an impromptu performance outside on the lawn!

Performances were complemented by a colourful assortment of stalls in the Global Marketplace. Stalls featured crafts like the ever-popular origami, calligraphy and henna, traditional games such as Singapore-style mahjong and dai dee as well as snacks including Nigerian chin-chin and Brazilian brigadeiro. There were also exhibitions about countries as diverse as Mexico and Malaysia along with stands advertising Oxford balls with an international theme – each ball featured a different country/region, or in the case of the Lincoln Ball, the entire world! In addition, a charity raffle was held to raise more funds for Fund4Darfur.

The Fair was very well-attended throughout the day, with more than 500 people experiencing the sights, sounds and tastes of the world right here in Oxford. It was our great pleasure to welcome not just students as well as University staff and their families, but also many members of the wider Oxford community. Many particularly enjoyed the interactive elements of both performances and stall presentations, and expressed interest in attending future instalments of the Festival!

In total, 28 societies and more than 200 students and staff were involved in the organisation of the Festival. We were bowled over by the enthusiasm of all participating groups as well as those who attended events during the week. The Festival far exceeded all expectations and we are deeply grateful to all who were a part of making the Oxford International Festival such an unequivocal success. We look forward to meeting you next year!

Xin-Hui Chan & Kudrat Virk
Co-chairpersons 2007/2008
International Students’ Campaign, OUSU

www.oxfordinternationalfestival.org