The loud, fast-paced sounds of AfroReggae filled the air around Bosco Student Plaza on Sunday night. AfroReggae played at K-State as part of a collaborative effort between several campus organizations. Movies on the Grass sponsors were the main group responsible for bringing the band to Kansas.

Rhondalyn Peairs, event coordinator and director of the DOW Chemical Multicultural Research Center in Hale Library, spearheaded the effort to bring AfroReggae to campus.

Peairs wanted AfroReggae to come to K-State after watching the movie "Favela Rising," which tells the band's story.

"I was inspired by their story," Peairs said. "They use music as a tool for empowerment."

AfroReggae formed in Brazil from a desire to improve poor socioeconomic conditions in Rio de Janeiro, according to AfroReggae's Web site.

Movies on the Grass brought the group to K-State to be featured in an evening of activities planned around the showing of "Favela Rising." The band played at 6 p.m., and the film showing followed its performance at Coffman Commons.

A favela is a Brazilian squatter settlement, according to the band's Web site. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a squatter is a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land.

Movies on the Grass worked with other campus organizations as well to make the band's performance possible. The Center for Nonviolence was one of many groups that sponsored the event. The International Student Center and the Center for Discourse and Democracy also were involved.

The Center for Nonviolence supported the event because AfroReggae's story is an example of how to use music to gather together and create social change, said Victor Force, coordinator of Social Justice events at K-State and graduate student in sociology.

Sharing an inspirational story was only part of the reason AfroReggae came to K-State. The primary reason was to put on a show.

The group has a varied sound with elements of several different styles. Heavy and energetic drum beats combined with some rap lyrics and traditional reggae singing defined the group's sound.

Audience members said they enjoyed the different style of music featured at the show.

"It is different than most music you hear around here," said Kate Herzog, junior in biology. "It's really heavy with the drums."

Some audience members said they weren't really into the style of music but still enjoyed the special sound of the group. "It's not my kind of music, but it is very interesting to listen to it," said Anni Wichers, a K-State foreign exchange student studying English.