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Women clapped and cheered as men and children performed dances from western and central Saudi Arabia to a combination of American rap and traditional Saudi music.
The group was observing Saudi National Day, a celebration of the unification of Arab tribes to create Saudi Arabia in 1932.
Abdulaziz Al-Homedey, a graduate student studying computer science, said Saudi Arabia was composed of individual, uncivilized tribes before King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud took control in 1902.
"It was a really bad time," Al-Homeday said. "There was nothing, no agriculture, nothing to do. Then King Abdulaziz came."
Al-Homeday described Abdulaziz's efforts from about 1902 to 1932 as both peaceful and forceful. The goal was to unify the Arabic tribes, he said. Since the country was formed, non-Muslims were not allowed citizenship in Saudi Arabia. The entire country is predominantly Muslim.
Although the holiday is on Sept. 23, it fell during the lunar month of Ramadan and couldn't be celebrated until the month of fasting had ended.
"We are Muslim, so lots of people think we have straight lives, like we don't dance, don't do anything like that, but we want to show them we have everything normal,"
Al-Homeday said.
Traditional food, including pita bread, hummus, rice, meats and coffee from antique metal coffee pots followed the dances.
Faraj Al-Dossary, a graduate student studying education, said the coffee pots are reminiscent of the time before electricity when Saudis cooked their coffee over open fires.
Although some men wore suits, most wore traditional Saudi thobes, which are long-sleeved, ankle-length garments. On their heads, they wore a white or red and white checked cloth, called a gutra.
The women wore colored, embroidered or beaded thobes that varied in design depending on the region of Saudi Arabia they were from. Many wore matching headscarves to cover their hair.
Some wore Abayahs, which are less form-fitting, plain and black. They wore these with black veils and headscarves.
Amjad Ali, a graduate student studying accounting, said the celebration's purpose at the university is to give the public an opportunity to learn about Saudi culture.
Ali said most Saudi students in America are here on Saudi government scholarships. The scholarship program, which began in 2005, enables Saudi students to attend universities in several countries and return to Saudi Arabia with advanced degrees, Ali said.
To utilize a scholarship in another country, a mahram, or guardian, in the form of a husband or male family member must accompany a Saudi woman. Saudi men may go alone or the Saudi government will provide assistance for their families to come, Ali said.
Al-Homedey said people often believe Saudi Arabia is only a desert setting and fail to realize it has factories, major universities and bustling city areas.
"They think we all have camels," he said. "It's kind of funny."
The celebration in Saudi Arabia often lasts several days and nights, but at SIUC it lasted roughly three hours.
In Saudi Arabia, the entire country celebrates, like the fourth of July in America, Al-Homedey said.
"It's difficult because I'm not home," Ali said. "This is the stuff that makes me miss home."
Brandy Oxford can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 255 or brandy.oxford@siude.com.
