HASA Presents Footsteps Series

The magic of dance and the thunder of drums filled Lowell Lecture Hall Saturday night, as the Harvard African Students Association (HASA) show Maitisong concluded an artistic tour of the African diaspora.

Maitisong, a Tswana word meaning "entertainers", concludes a two-part series Footsteps Through Africa.

Saturday's performers included Brothers of Kuumba, Gumboots, the '01 Steppers, the Caribbean Club, an "Afro Quartet" from Northeastern University and several storytellers.

This was HASA's first year sponsoring the "Footsteps through Africa" series. In previous years the group sponsored a fashion show called L'Afrique as its main annual event.

The first portion of the series, in November, was a night of storytelling entitled Ananse Sem, a Twi (Ghanaian) word which means "storytelling" according to Hermon Ghermay'00.

According to the program's chair Leyla Marrouk '99, who is from Morocco, the event featured 54 performers, none of whom were professionals.

The audience, which included both students and guests from across the Boston area and the country, seemed as enthusiastic as the performers.

One legendary storyteller who performed in the event, Rev. Hugh M. Hill '48-better known as "Brother Blue,"-said he particularly enjoyed the story telling aspect of Maitisong.

"Dance is something that expresses what words can't say. But through storytelling, you can touch the soul. Story telling is my way of serving the people," Brother Blue said. He once hosted a children's TV show featuring story telling.

The goal of this year's program was to put the Harvard community in contact with African culture, according to Marrouk.

"We wanted to educate people and show them the joyous parts of Africa," Marrouk said.

Another goal of the program was to connect Africa's art to the art forms of people of African descent.

The Gumboots act, an African step dance performed with rubber boots on, preceded a performance by the '01 Steppers, who performed a step routine that partially mocked Gumboots. Afterwards, the two groups performed together.

The proceeds from the show went to CARE, an organization that provides humanitarian assistance to Sierra Leone.

HASA co-president Frederick Antwi'01 explained that the purpose of the gift was symbolic.

"Though our gift may be just token, it is nonetheless a step in the right direction," Antwi said.

S. Chartey Quarcoo '02, who told a traditional Ghanaian tale in the show, reflected upon the purpose of the Footsteps as he opened the show along with Antwi.

"Even as we celebrate tonight we must not shut our eyes to the tragedies that have plagued our continent," Quarcoo said.

The event became solemn when Iyesatta Massaquoi '99 explained the tragedies of war in her native Sierra Leone.

According to Massaquoi, the problems in Sierra Leone stem from the civil war in Liberia. The U.S. government established Liberia by sending previously enslaved blacks there and allowing them to rule.

When the native Liberians eventually rebelled against the government in the early 1990s a civil war began. Because of Sierra Leone's humanitarian aid to the Liberian government, the rebels invaded Sierra Leone.

Lighter Moments

The highlight of the show occurred when the Brothers of Kuumba sang "My Girl."

Before they began the song, John Gramling of the Brothers of Kuumba pulled his girlfriend Naima R. Lilly '01 out of the audience and sang specifically to her. He later presented her with a rose and a gift.

Audience member Jennifer L. James '02, said she felt the performances indicated the strength of African-Americans' connection to Africa.

"Sometimes as an African-American I feel out of touch with Africa. As a student at Harvard sitting in the audience, I had a chance to get in touch with the motherland. I hope it becomes an annual event," James said.

A dance in Adams House, featuring traditional African and Latino music, sponsored by HASA and Latinas Unidas followed the show.