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Severn Welcomes Maasai Troupe in a Day of Cultural Exchange
On Wednesday, October 4, in partnership with World Artists Experiences, Severn School was delighted to welcome a group of storytellers, musicians and dancers from the traditional Maasai community in Southeast Kenya. As part of a tour of mid-Atlantic high schools and universities, the Maasai troupe staged crowd-pleasing performances on Teel Campus, spoke with select Upper School classes and held a beading demonstration. As they shared their culture with us, we shared ours with them. Please enjoy photos and video from the day!
The Maasai visitors presented their age-old traditions from Southeast Kenya including their unique jumping form of dancing, storytelling, and song in multi-part harmonies. The four men of the group were authentic Maasai herdsmen and warriors, and were joined by two women to sing and dance as they would in their village. During their performances, they invited Severn students on stage to join in the fun!
After our visitors shared so much of their culture with us, we shared a bit with them! Students and faculty played a round of pick-up soccer with the group and enjoyed a meal together. This type of cultural exchange bridges the gap between our everyday lives and the lives of friends across the globe.
World Artists Experiences is a non-profit organization which bridges international understanding through citizen and cultural diplomacy. Severn is grateful to WAE, the Embassy of Kenya and the Maasai troupe for opening our eyes to some of the traditions and concerns of the Maasai people.
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Watch the video of the performance for our Upper School!
Sharing Culture and History
After the performances, the troupe spoke with Upper School AP Environmental Science Classes about water scarcity, and with Global History Classes about Maasai culture and history. Toward the end of the day, the Kenyan group held a beading demonstration. Severn students tried their hand at this delicate work and were able to buy handmade crafts to commemorate the day. Proceeds from the sales went to benefit the Massai Water Project to acquire well-boring equipment to help alleviate a severe water shortage in their village.After our visitors shared so much of their culture with us, we shared a bit with them! Students and faculty played a round of pick-up soccer with the group and enjoyed a meal together. This type of cultural exchange bridges the gap between our everyday lives and the lives of friends across the globe.
... And a Little Fun!
And no cultural exchange is complete without a whistling duel ... who knew Upper School Head Ms. Bea Fuller had such hidden talents?Building Understanding Across the Globe
The day's activities enhanced our community's understanding of cultures across the world in a very real, tangible way. It's one thing to learn about a culture and its people from a book or video, but it is an entirely different experience to spend time with one another, appreciate our differences and join together through our similarities. Through these types of programs, we encourage our students to look outside of themselves and their immediate surroundings to see our human connection to people a world away, regardless of the clothes we wear or the language we speak.World Artists Experiences is a non-profit organization which bridges international understanding through citizen and cultural diplomacy. Severn is grateful to WAE, the Embassy of Kenya and the Maasai troupe for opening our eyes to some of the traditions and concerns of the Maasai people.
