By Anastasia Champ, Bloc Reporter 

Nyumburu Cultural Center hosted another session of its wildly popular event, Juke Joint on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Students poured into the foyer of the Nyumburu Multipurpose Room, greeted by friendly faces of Nyumburu staff before the event.

“It’s a talent show, like Open Mic Night, that we hold once a month on Thursday nights,” Nyumburu ambassador and sophomore hearing and speech sciences and communications major Shanice Gentle said.

When the doors finally shut, signaling the start of the event, it was apparent that students knew exactly what they were in for. Over 100 students socialized, danced and cheered for their friends as they took their place on stage.

“It’s interesting,” said junior neurophysiology and biology major Andrew Adeolu. “It’s a time to socialize and meet people.”

Sophomore criminology and criminal justice major Ian Sloan performed a poem and rap song that promoted a tender message.

“Since it’s Valentine’s Day [Friday, Feb.14] I figured give the women a song that shows we still respect them as ‘good guys,’” said Sloan. Judging by the reaction, Sloan’s message was received, where he enticed the crowd to chant, “L-O-V-E is what you need.”

Kosi, a spoken-word performer, demanded everyone’s attention with his poem, “Stand Your Ground,” written in response to Trayvon Martin’s death, whose murder took the country by storm in 2012.

“I hope they drown in the sea of me… can they stand their ground if their ground is me?” Kosi said. The crowd expressed deep feelings with moans of understanding and snaps heard from every direction.

To transition between performances, the MCs performed “roll call,” which consisted of calling out different cities, tempting students to represent their place of origin.

From New York to Atlanta, students one by one proceeded towards the front of the stage to showcase their hometown pride through the act of jubilant dance.

Greek Life slowly trickled their way into the dances before finishing Thursday evening’s event with The Collective.

The Collective, a trio consisting of freshman computer engineering major Barrington Brice, freshmen mechanical engineering major Victor “Apollo” Harrington and junior theater major Jeremiah “J.R.” Quarles, concluded the event with their Frank Ocean medley.

While Brice and Harrington were excited to hit the stage, Quarles was not.

“I’m a little nervous,” said Quarles. The Collective belted their medley with passion supplemented by audience interaction.

“They were good,” said sophomore letters and sciences major Adonna White.

Nyumburu Cultural Center can once again mark another successful Juke Joint.