V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University hosted a vibrant festival dedicated to the diverse cultures and traditions of students from across the African continent. The event brought together around one hundred participants and guests.

“Relations between Russia and Africa are now rapidly developing at all levels – from the Presidential administration and government ministries to educational and cultural institutions. Vernadsky CFU plays its part in this process. Each year, these ties grow stronger. The University is both the moderator and founder of the Russian–African Network University, which was established back in 2001, and it was also at Vernadsky CFU that the Russian-African Summer University was held for the first time. All of these initiatives form a bridge of friendship between the Russian and African students,” said Kaud Diya, Vernadsky CFU Rector’s Adviser for International Affairs.

The event featured a variety of activities, including workshops in traditional African hair braiding, African tribal make-up, and African body art, as well as the tasting of the traditional African dishes.

Currently, Vernadsky CFU has fifty-two students from eleven African countries, such as the Republic of the Congo, Angola, Egypt, Namibia, Nigeria, Guinea, Ghana, Zambia, Cameroon, Kenya, and Morocco.

The Africa Day festival was held at Vernadsky CFU as part of the Priority-2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Programme . The project aims to strengthen the University’s international standing by increasing the number of international students, enhancing the quality of their education, and facilitating their social and cultural adjustment in Russia.