Pan-Af Tradition Returns: NPHC Stroll-Off

On Friday, April 8, 2022, during NC State’s 50th Pan-African anniversary, the National Pan-Hellenic Council hosted its annual Stroll-Off. Stroll-offs are a long-honored tradition that allows the Black sororities and fraternities on campus to compete while displaying and uplifting the individuality of their organization.

This year it was hosted in the State ballroom in Talley Student Union. Five of the NCSU’s NPHC organizations performed: the Mu Xi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., The Kappa Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the Xi Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and the Kappa Omega Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.

The show started off with a roll call of all of the Divine Nine organizations present being given the opportunity to announce their presence by strolling to “Knuck if you Buck” by Crime Mob. Then the judges of the competition were announced. The judges were Alexius Pearson, Kayla Baker, Ashley Gaie, Bradley Davis, and Jalen Baker; Pearson is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., Kayla Baker is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Gaie is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Davis is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Jalen Baker is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

The competition consisted of three rounds with their own themes. 

Round One: Decades

1. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. – 1970s EtaOVision, inspired by the tv show “WandaVision”
2. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. – Weather girls of the 70s 
3. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. – 2000s Fashion 
4. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Dance group debut performance in 1990
5. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. – Land of y2k 

Round Two – Musical Genre 

1. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. – LatinX Music
2. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.- Afrobeats Music 
3. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. – Caribbean Music
4. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Pop Music
5. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. – LatinX Music

Round Three –  Freestyle 

1. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. – 2019 film US 
2. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. – Present day 
3. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. – Old school and New school strolls
4. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – Superstars on their international tour 
5. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.- Leannn back into your seats

 

Between the second and third rounds, there was an intermission. During which Code Red, NCSU’s Stomp and Shake cheer team, performed. This was their debut performance. 

There was a second intermission between the third round and when they announced the results. Elikem Dodor, the Special Events chair for NPHC, asked for volunteers to come on stage and participate in a dance-off. Three people came on stage and Adrian Gibbs, a third-year Science, Technology, and Society (STS) major, won. 

Afterward, the winners were announced. The Kappa Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. won First Place Sorority and the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. won First Place Fraternity. The Kappa Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. won overall Grand Champion as they surpassed all competitors in both categories by over 50 points

 

Nubian Message was able to talk to members, who also performed, of both of the winning teams.

Nubian Message spoke with the current President of the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc., Jada Jant, a fourth-year Majoring in Biological Science and minoring in Women and Gender Sexuality Studies. 

 

Nubian Message: How do you feel about your sorority not only winning 1st place sorority but also being the grand champions of the show? 

Jada Jant: I am overly ecstatic about Kappa Omicron winning the sorority division AND grand champions. We worked really hard planning the show and really wanted to give it our best, so it’s great knowing all of the hard work paid off. 

 

NM: This is your last year of undergrad at state. How does it feel knowing that you’ve solidified your legacy here on campus in more ways than one?

JJ: As my college career comes to an end and I reflect on the past 4 years, I wouldn’t do anything over again. Knowing that I’ve had an everlasting impact on my chapter is something that I take great pride in and I still hope to help KO continue its legacy however I can as alumni.

 

NM: What were you most excited about when planning for the stroll off?

JJ: I was most excited about getting out there with my sisters and showcasing what we’d put together. We had a lot of fun planning this show and even more performing it!

 

We also spoke with Alvin Mutongi, current president of NPHC and Chaplain of the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc.

 

Nubian Message: How does it feel for your fraternity to have won first place?

Alvin Mutongi: It represents the culmination of months of work.  The vision for the show came to us in December and I have my Stroll master and Line brother Cameron Williams to thank for directing us to execute his vision. I’m incredibly proud of everyone in the chapter and they’ve added to the legacy of the Eta Omicron brothers winning stroll-offs and step shows.

 

NM: What were you most excited about when planning for the stroll off?

AM: I was excited for the audience and the NC State community to see us perform and show campus what we’ve been working on.  When Black people get together there is an energy in the air that’s unmatched and seeing that in the crowd is what I was most looking forward to.

 

Congratulations to the winners of the NPHC Stroll Off, the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.