Quincy Dining Hall turned into a fashion runway Saturday night, as the Harvard African Students Association (HASA) sponsored its annual African fashion show.

Clad in West African styles, 17 students strutted their stuff against the backdrop of African music supplied by the Gumboots Dance Troupe.

The two-hour event titled “Tanaka,” which means beauty in Shona, marked the conclusion of “Africa Week.”

“I think that this is a very good note to end on,” said Ekua K. Nkyekyer ’07, one of about 75 students who attended the show. “I think it is something that everybody should experience at least once.”

The event was produced and directed by Onyinye D. Offor ’05, the president of HASA. Offor also emceed the show along with Uzodinma C. Iweala ’05.

Iweala kept the show light-hearted by teasing the models as they came down the runway and encouraging audience participation.

“He has really good energy and a knack for making people laugh.” Offor said.

When model Lawrence E. Adjah ’06 came down the runway shirtless, showing his well-defined abdominal muscles to the audience, Iweala quipped, “When you see a guy in an outfit like this, what do you want to do? You want to get his phone number. I will be wearing this outfit after the show.”

One of the highlights of the show, however, came before any models stepped foot on the runway.

Members of Gumboots donned their usual coal miner’s uniforms and knee-high rain boots as they performed South African numbers. The group’s name comes from black miners who communicated by slapping their boots since they were not permitted to speak in the mines.

“I think their performance was extremely energized, and I think I want to join Gumboots next year,” Nkyekyer said.

Following the dance performance, the models began coming down the runway dressed in traditional West African formal wear. The clothes from the first half of the show were borrowed primarily from Africana Arts and Crafts, a store located in Somerville, Mass. Some of the outfits, however, came from the models’ personal closets.

“I really enjoy the traditional clothing and I think it’s a pity that Africans don’t wear these types of clothes more often when they go out to formal events,” said Musha E. Hove ’06, a member of HASA and Gumboots.

Both Offor and Iweala encouraged audience members to consider wearing traditional African garments to their House formals in the Spring.

After a brief intermission, the models switched gears, trading in their formal outfits for more casual attire.