Instead of the usual two days of partying and homework, some students took time to learn about Latino and African-American cultures.

On Saturday, El Fuego del Pueblo and the African Student Association presented the Youth Culture Initiative Board’s first annual Cultural Summit at Diversions Lounge in the Holmes Student Center.

“We need unity to bring awareness of Latin and African cultures to find connections,” said Gema Gaete-Tapia, an officer of El Fuego del Pueblo.

The culture summit, which ran from noon to 7 p.m., included speakers, poets and entertainment by Kuumba Lynx, Yuruba Drummers, Capoeira, rappers, breakdancers and DJ Mike Flo.

Claudio Gaete-Tapia, a Uuniversity of Illinois-Chicago graduate students and community activist, spoke about the effects of globalization on indigenous communities in Latin America. It was based on his six-month trip to some of the Latin countries.

“Before, land was everyone’s,” he said. “Then NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) changed the law and started privatized land. That took away the community, changed relationships and influenced how people lived.”

Another speaker was Cashus D, a Midwest Zula Nation King, entrepreneur, educator and a veteran and pioneer of the hip-hop movement. He spoke about the African American youth images in hip-hop and the media, along with the history of graffiti.

“Hip-hop is getting a bad name,” Cashus D said. “It is a culture that has been affecting many things for the past 30 years.”

He also went through a slide show which showed the audience the hidden negative signs of some of today’s rap and hip-hop artists and record labels.

Christina Evans, a junior communication and business management major, hopes to start a Youth Culture Initiative Board at NIU.

“It’s a way we can network with other colleges [who already have the board],” Evans said. “Our main goal is to have other cultures also involved.”