Eight months ago, Shanghai-based teacher Dennis Nkwetato and his friends Octavius Ngwerume and Marjorie Munhenga Ngwerume decided to gather the African community in Beijing for a beauty pageant.

“This event is for Africans to showcase what they have,” Ngwerume says.

The 14 contestants in the inaugural Miss Africa in China beauty pageant hail from countries across the continent. They’ll be judged on evening wear, African wear and talent.

The evening wear competition allows judges to evaluate each contestant’s poise and grace, while the African wear category poses a more elaborate challenge.

“We expect that there are very few African resources for them in China to come up with African outfits, so creativity is going to count a lot. And originality,” Ngwerume adds.

While the skills displayed in the talent competition don’t necessarily have to be African, Ngwerume anticipates performances more exclusive to African women, such as traditional dances and singing.

Despite China and Africa’s economic, academic and political ties, it’s not easy being an Africanliving in Beijing, Ngwerume says. Locals are more inclined to accept the Caucasian community. “(Africans) have to work 10 times as hard to get that respect.”

Ngwerume expects the event will be popular mostly with Africans who are looking for an evening of entertainment and food from home, but the organizers hope to see a healthy turnout of locals and other foreigners.

“It’s just going to be a night of fun,” Ngwerume says. “We’ll have different traditional dancing and African artists, some of them are upcoming, some of them bands that have played in China for a while.” Among the musicians to perform are drum troupe The Untouchables, The Afro Rhythm Music Dance and Drum Percussion Crew and Afro-hip-hop artist Danhansome.

Ras Ethiopian Restaurant is offering a buy-one-get-one free deal on the ¥200 pageant tickets. VIP tickets are also available for ¥350, which include a pre-pagaent buffet of authentic African food and drinks. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to charity.

By Caroline Killmer

What: Miss Africa in China When: July 10, 7pm Where: The Rain Club, Dongsishitiao Web: www.missafricainchina.com/venue.php