It was a beautiful sunny evening in the SEC Plaza, the air filled with an inviting mixture of lively music, birds chirping, and the chatter and laughter of festival attendees. A warm breeze gave life to the waving flags of the regions that the Ettihad Cultural Center represents, and smiling faces could be found at every corner of the plaza.

Last Sunday, May 4, the ECC successfully hosted its annual Ettihad Cultural Festival – a vibrant celebration of community and culture.

The celebration was open to students and the public alike, and served as “a great venue for people to come and not only see the performances or eat Indian food, but also to have conversations with community members.” Said Zeena Faulk, the Director of the ECC.

At the beginning of the festival, attendees had the opportunity to visit the 17 tables set up in the plaza representing different countries from the Horn of Africa, North Africa, West Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia.

At these tables, attendees could talk to the representatives about their countries and learn about various aspects of that country’s culture and history. The representatives were enthusiastic to share about their cultures and graciously answered questions and offered conversation.

Many tables were decorated with colorful trifolds adorned with photographs of their respective countries, handmade goods, paintings, samples of snacks, sweets, and cups of tea.

The festival also featured games and activities for students and families to enjoy, and Caesar the No Drama Llama made an appearance, posing for photos throughout the night.

Dinner was provided free of charge, offering heaping plates of rice, butter chicken, chana masala, aloo gobi, and naan to attendees. The meal was catered by Evergreen.

The second part of the festival featured an impressive line-up of performances, including various acts of singing, dancing, and poetry from several of the represented cultures. The Ethiopian-Eritrean dance group was a crowd favorite and was a part of the festival that Reem Said-al-naief, a tableer representing Syria, said she particularly enjoyed.

The festival concluded with a flag ceremony – a powerful scene of pride and community.

“I really enjoyed this event. I love to see so many people here at once enjoying different cultures.” Said festival attendee Enas Abo Al Haija, “There were many families present and people from different cultures at this event. I loved the food, the representation, and the music. The performances and outfits were definitely the highlight – and the flag ceremony as well.”

Gallery • 4 Photos

PJ Royland

Oregon State student, Misgana Merid pours tea for a guest at the SEC Plaza at Oregon State University on May 04, 2025. Stopping by their table to learn about Eritrea's culture and tradition.