6th annual walk to showcase entertainment, customs, culture

Jonah Kramer | Staff Writer

On Friday, the Barfield Living Room in the Bill Daniel Student Center will be lit as Baylor’s Phi Beta Sigma and the Nu Zeta chapter of the National Panhellenic Council (NPHC) take the stage. The sixth annual Royal and Pure Homecoming Walk starts at 7pm and features the walk, a way of telling a story through dance.

Baylor’s NPHC serves as the governing body of the Holy Nine – the historically black sororities and fraternities of Baylor. Stroll-Off will showcase the talents of two NPHC fraternities: the Pi Mu chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha and the Rho Eta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. There will also be two NPHC fraternities in the evening: the Xi Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi and the Tau Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Defending champion of Stroll-Off.

Shelynbria Jackson, a New Orleans veteran and president of Baylor NPHC, said the walk originated as a way to showcase African-American culture at a time when African-Americans faced racism and discrimination.

Ayo Omolewa, president of Phi Beta Sigma and Dallas senior, said that while the Walk predates the existence of sororities and fraternities in history, NPHC chapters have played an important role in continuing the tradition.

“[Strolling is] A piece of history,” Omoleva said. “No matter what we do, it’s always with us [or] where are we going. I’ve always known walks. I will always know the steps. “

Contestants on Friday night will play three different rounds. Deja Blu Round will play retro music, while Slow Stroll and Free Round will show contrasting rhythms.

Every chapter will get three minutes Each round impresses the judges – all NPHC alumni – with lights and props to add fun and complement the hard work of the production process.

Omolewa said that while Phi Beta Sigma’s performance will not be officially graded for the events they host, members have practiced three days a week since the semester began, with classes lasting hours.

The prep time will create a unique mix of movement in each walk, Jackson said. According to Jackson, through rhythmic and synchronized movements, each chapter will express its own identity — one built on respect for the trailblazers of the wandering tradition.

“That’s how we represent the people we’ve built,” Jackson said.

Omolewa echoes Jackson’s take on a rich strolling history.

“We want to make sure that the history and legacy of the work we do doesn’t go away,” Omolewa said.

Legacy of the Home Walking Race Baylor started in 2016. The event was named “Royal and Pure Homecoming Step Show” at the outset. While it’s now called a “royal and pure homecoming walk,” the same historical principles drive the night.

“Stepping is when you’re taking a beat with your hands and body, and walking is when you’re moving to another beat,” says Omolewa.

Jackson said viewers can look forward to Friday night’s enthusiastic stomps and walks, both traditions that allow members to showcase their cultural identities. The event will embody the back-to-school spirit, as many alumni are looking forward to the event in particular. Jackson said the walk is an opportunity for NPHC alumni to see how their chapter has grown in the years since they left.

Delta Sigma Theta alumna Jaila Williams graduated last spring and is returning to campus for Stroll-Off. She said she was delighted to see her sorority cadet perform last year.

“I take my relationship with all of them very seriously,” Williams said. “So for me, it’s important for them to feel supported and know that the rapport we’ve built isn’t just indirect.”

Williams said she is also looking forward to connecting with alumni, some of whom are from Atlanta and California.

“It’s really something to look forward to and celebrate when we see those of us passing the torch really expanding all of our legacy and doing it together,” Williams said.

In addition to tradition and commemoration, Stroll-Off reflects Phi Beta Sigma’s motto – “Culture in Service, Humanity in Service” – in an effort to raise funds for children in need of surgery through a partnership with Cure BU. While there is no registration fee, attendees will have the opportunity to donate to the cause via a QR code, Omolewa said.

According to Jackson, the walk is key to Shen Jiu’s life on campus, but the competition isn’t just for those familiar with the walk tradition. Omolewa said he encourages people to attend if they want to be entertained and experience a part of Baylor that isn’t usually shown outside the black community.

“There are so many different sides of Baylor, so many different cultures, it’s just another experience,” Omolewa said.