Apollo Night, the yearly talent show hosted in celebration of Black History Month, took place Feb. 27 at Thorne Hall. Organized by the Black Student Alliance, Apollo Night showcases students looking to make an impact through their performances.
Zuriyah Smith (senior) was an emcee at this year’s Apollo Night along with Rose Ngalamulume (sophomore). Smith said the event was originally inspired by Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, a historical site that served as a haven for Black artists and performers in the 20th century. According to Smith, Occidental has been hosting Apollo Night since 2008.
“Amateur Night would have children, singers, dancers, all kinds of performers come on stage […] and they would compete for a first place prize,” Smith said. “Someone 18 years ago decided that Oxy could use some showcase like that and could input some form of activity or event on campus that really heightened Black voices, Black identities and Black rituals and traditions.”
Shelby Kernisant (junior)* won first place at Apollo Night for the second year in a row, along with Zach Lipzett (junior), who placed second last year. The pair performed a duet, featuring Judy Garland’s “Get Happy” from the musical “Summer Stock” and Barbara Streisand’s “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
Kernisant said the pair drew musical inspiration from multiple genres and styles.
“[Zach and I] both have a real big love of classic music. Whether it’s jazz or more in the ballad style, we really love a big song you get into,” Kernisant said.
Kernisant said music and performance can be a welcome distraction from constant depressing news.
“When we come together we’re able to create, [and] it allows us to feel a sense of peace,” Kernisant said. “We wanted to give the audience something to feel joy about, even if only for a moment, because it can be hard to not feel bogged down, but that’s what art is for. When times are at their darkest, you do what you can, because that’s the power of the human spirit.”
Kernisant said the message of unity she was trying to convey is more important to her than being a back-to-back winner.
“I couldn’t go up and sing unless I said something to the effect of, ‘We see you, we love you and we’re all here fighting this battle together,’” Kernisant said. “None of us are alone in this […] what history shows us is that in times of strife and hardship people come together, especially through art.”
Valeria Rosas (sophomore) took home second place for her rendition of Adele’s “Someone Like You.”
Rosas said she was shocked at the crowd’s reaction to her performance.
“When the song ended […] I looked up, and people were clapping […] and then eventually people stood up and I was like, ‘Oh, my God, people are standing up,’” Rosas said. “I started freaking out […] I hadn’t been on stage by myself like that in a really long time so knowing that they were clapping for me made me feel very proud of myself.”
Rosas said Apollo Night means more to her and her fellow performers than just competing.
“Being in that environment […] was more [about] just having fun and expressing yourself, showing your talent and showing off what you got,” Rosas said. “It’s a night filled with love, passion, excitement and happiness. I don’t doubt that people know that but it’s something that I really enjoyed and that really made me feel safe the entire night.”
According to Ngalamulume, the participants stepped up their game from previous events.
“This year’s performers realized that after last year’s Apollo Night, they were definitely going to have to have some sort of ‘It’ factor, something that was going to set them apart,” Ngalamulume said. “I really appreciated the fact that people genuinely went above and beyond.”
Ngalamulume said Apollo Night feels more like a collaboration than a competition.
“[Apollo Night] is a celebration of talent,” Ngalamulume said. “That’s what makes people want to come back here year after year […] it shows up with the amount of camaraderie that the performers are able to show each other.”
Smith said Apollo Night is about highlighting Black perspectives, but all students are welcome to perform at and attend the event.
“We wanted to amplify Black voices but we also didn’t want it to be restricted to our community,” Smith said. “We wanted to find a way to connect Black traditions with the broader Oxy community, and that’s why the event is open to anyone.”
Smith said part of the importance of Apollo Night is to pave the way for students of color in the future at Occidental and in the LA community in general.
“We have [Apollo Night] held in Black History Month because we’re making more Black history here at Oxy,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we get more Black students that come over the years and they actually have something to look forward to. Also, it’s just a way to connect us as an institution to the broader Black community in LA. I look forward to having a rich opportunity to connect with something bigger than what we see and what we experience on this campus daily.”
*Shelby Kernisant is a staff writer at The Occidental.
Contact Angus Kapstein Parkhill at parkhill@oxy.edu
