Students experience African culture

Alexandria Winchester (left) is dressed for school in Liberian print dress and matching hat while Sarah Holifield wears a more festive outfit. Photo by Kathy Chaffin, Salisbury Post

Anayia Fulson (l-r) and Sage Huffman, representing Guinea, wait their turn in the parade of African flags with Clara Brown, representing Ghana, at Koontz Elementary Black History Month assembly Friday. Photo by Kathy Chaffin, Salisbury Post

Koontz Elementary School students enjoy Liberian fashion show at Friday's Black History Month assembly. Photo by Kathy Chaffin, Salisbury Post

Emcee Mary Hardin, a retired school teacher, introduces Alexandra Winchester, who is wearing a print dress and matching hat suitable for school in Libera. Photo by Kathy Chaffin, Salisbury Post

Elizabeth Wah, who teaches in the Exceptional Children's Program at Koontz, lived in Liberia before moving to the United States as a teenager. Photo by Kathy Chaffin, Salisbury Post

By Kathy Chaffin

kchaffin@salisburypost.com

Elizabeth Koontz Elementary School students danced to the beat of African music while gathering in the gymnasium Friday afternoon for an up close look at life in Liberia.

Elizabeth Wah, a teacher in the Exceptional Children's Program, organized a parade of African flags and a fashion show of outfits from Liberia as part of the school's Black History Month Celebration. She lived in Liberia before moving to the United States as a teenager.

Wah also displayed African artifacts, miniature flags and photographs on the steps in front of the stage.

Retired Overton Elementary teacher Mary Hardin served as emcee for the event.

"This year, our theme is unity," she said. "Our coming together gives us strength, knowledge and understanding, but most of all, unity helps us love and appreciate one another."

"Today, we celebrate the mother land, Africa," she said.

As students participating in the parade of African flags stopped in front of the audience — one country at a time — Hardin read information about each country, including its capital city, official language and some historical facts.

The capital of Liberia, for example, is Monrovia, she said, and the official language is English.

"Liberia is the oldest independent nation in Africa and the second oldest in the world," Hardin said. "Only Haiti is older."

Liberia was founded in 1822 by freed slaves sent there by a colonial society in the United States, she said. The name, "Liberia," comes from a Latin word meaning "free land."

Teachers and students joined Wah in the fashion show featuring bright, colorful fabrics from Liberia. Hardin said the outfits reflect their designers' creativity. Some of the accessories were made from African gems and natural resources, she said.

Several of the models danced across the stage to the beat of African music.

Wah modeled three outfits, including an orange, silver, gold and blue outfit similar to what the president of Liberia might wear. That's right, Hardin said, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was elected the country's first female president in 2006.

In modeling the last outfit, Wah carried a cow's tail used by Liberian royalty to bless people.

Judging by the expressions on their faces, the students seemed to enjoy the fashion show, especially when Wah danced across the stage. Her husband, A.B., served as the announcer.

Hardin concluded the event with an inspirational message.

"Continue to celebrate together in the spirit of love, hope, brotherhood and peace," she said. Cultivate faith, courage, dignity and ambition ... All of these attributes will help to create a world of peace."