LEWISTON – When Bruno Yomoah moved to Lewiston in 1997, he was one of the only African immigrants in town.
Born in Ghana, he came to America to teach English and eventually landed a job at Hebron Academy. He remembers walking downtown and feeling people stare.
“I was very self-conscious. It was hard at first,” he said.
Yomoah wondered how long he’d last being part of such a small minority. He considered moving to a bigger city with more diversity.
Then, just in time, diversity came to him, to Lewiston.
Families from Togo arrived here first. They were followed by hundreds of Somalis.
Now, Yomoah is working with immigrants from both countries to bring the entire community together – blacks and whites, new and old.
As a member of the African Immigrants Association, he is helping to plan the second annual Independence Day party.
The event is scheduled for July 1, to celebrate the anniversary of America’s independence and the independence of Somalia.
The northern and southern parts of Somalia used to be separate, each under the rule of a different country. The north gained its independence from Britain on June 26, 1960. On July 1 of that same year, the south broke away from Italy, and the two halves joined as one country.
Yomoah and the other members of the African Immigrants Association hope that the joined celebration will give people an opportunity to share stories and learn about each other’s cultures.
“Someone has to be the catalyst for integration,” Yomoah said.
Event organizer Said Mohamud believes many Somali immigrants are still too timid to get involved in the community. They worry about not being accepted because they dress and speak differently, he said.
The party is an opportunity to take the first step. Everyone from the public is invited, free of charge.
Last year, about 800 people showed up at the Lewiston High School gym for the music, dancing and food. Mohamud is hoping for more than 1,000 this year.
The group is asking for donations to help pay for the food and entertainment.
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