“The Power of the Qeej” is the theme to Hmong Night 5 p.m. April 15 in the Atwood Memorial Center Ballroom.
This qeej is a reed-type instrument created from mahogany and bamboo. It is used to play in many rituals, including marriages, ancestral rituals and offerings to the vital spirits.
“The arts are defining the part of the Hmong history and it had described, defined and deepened our understanding and meaning of our culture,” said Mai Xiong, president of the Hmong Student Organization.
Admission is $8 the night of the event and free for kids five and under.
Dinner consists of rice, Hmong sausage, chicken laab, stir fry bok choy and stir fry tofu with vegetables.
The show starts at 6 p.m. with cultural performances, skits and a fashion show.
“We value our history of our culture for ourselves. And because we do, educating our students and our community is important to us,” Xiong said. “To be able to have the opportunity to have cultural night like these, it empowers us and gives us the chance to have pride in who we are.”
Cultural festivals are one way the university is providing a transformative educational experience for students to help prepare them to be global citizens at home, at work and in their communities. More than 1,000 students from 90-plus nations attend St. Cloud State, and cultural festivals give them an opportunity to share elements of their culture with the campus community.
