Alverno College's the Bestowing of the Kente Celebrates 25 Years of Honoring Black Students
Seven years ago, Desiree Perry graduated from Alverno College with a bachelor's degree in health sciences. It was also seven years ago when Perry was a part of the Bestowing of the Kente Ceremony—a rite of passage recognizing African American students who are graduating seniors, earning a master’s degree, or completing a certification program. Each honoree chooses someone to present them with a Kente cloth: a colorful, hand-woven, ceremonial stole.
The Bestowing of the Kente brings out the emotions of everyone in the room. (Picture courtesy of Aleverno College)
Perry chose her mother to be her presenter and in the moment of the bestowing of her Kente, Perry said it was worth everything she went through while in college.
“I felt like I was paying tribute to my ancestors…like I had did it for my people, for my family,” said Perry. “I felt overwhelmed.”
Ever since that day, Perry has come back each semester to partake in the Kente Ceremony. She went from being bestowed, to being on the board to make sure other students, just like her, get to have the emotional experience she had years ago.
According to Perry, other colleges should have this type of ceremony, especially public colleges.
“It gives us an outlet to say ‘yes, we did it,’” she said. “It represents us…our resilience.”
Desiree Perry at her Bestowing of the Kente Ceremony. (Picture courtesy of Desiree Perry)
This year Perry is still on the board, but now she’s prepping to celebrate for the 25th year of the Bestowing of the Kente on Dec. 8 starting at 4:30 p.m. in the Bucyrus Conference Center.
Perry works closely with Adekola Adedapo, multicultural programs coordinator at Alverno, and other members of the board to make sure the ceremony is a hit every semester.
“It is magical,” Adedapo said about the ceremony. “Each time I’m amazed at the organic pieces that happen.”
Adekola Adedapo cleansing the area for one of the honorees. (Picture courtesy of Aleverno College)
“This ceremony, it’s a way of mending the community,” she added.
The Bestowing of the Kente is a way to connect African American students to their African culture, which isn’t commonly taught to us. Sometimes students can be hesitant to participate in the ceremony because they feel it’s taking away from their religion or American culture, said Adedapo.
“I watch them be touched in their hearts,” Adedapo said about the honorees. “I don’t know anyone who was sorry that they did it.”
The ceremony starts off with a ritual piece which involves cleansing the area. Adedapo sweeps the floor and sings for each graduate. After their name is called than they take a seat. After, follows a few steps such as the welcoming that then leads into the commence speakers. The speeches are usually done by the president of the college, a student who is a part of the ceremony, followed by an alumnus or someone who’s connected to the ceremony.
An African related performance is dedicated to salute the graduates right before the bestowing of their cloths.
“It has a transformative affect,” said Adedapo.
Co-founder of the ceremony Caryl Davis said each ceremony is traditionally the same, but the “women have made it their own.”
“Come and see that African culture and Black Americans can come together and be peaceful,” said Davis. “We have hearts.”
What started off as Davis and a friend just wanting to wear their Kente’s at their graduation 25 years ago has turned into a tradition for Alverno’s Black students. The ceremony also sparked the creation of another ceremony, the Latinas Con Fuerza, which is the Hispanic version of the Kente ceremony that is founded by Nicole Acosta.
To find out more about the Bestowing of the Kente Ceremony, click here.