Students Celebrate Folktales From the Black Diaspora at Harvard Foundation Event

More than 50 students gathered in Grays Hall basement on Thursday night to share and listen to folktales from the Black diaspora in celebration of Black History Month.

During the event hosted by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, students told stories from their childhoods that were passed down through generations and ranged greatly in their origins — from Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the United States.

Harvard Foundation intern and event emcee Nana Yaa P. Dwomoh ’27 said in an interview before the event that folktales have helped her connect with her Ghanaian identity.

“I thought that this would be a really fun way to, number one, have people share these stories that matter to them and that help them connect to their culture,” Dwomoh said.

The Harvard Black Students Association, Harvard Nigerian Student Association, Harvard Association of Ghanaian Students, and Harvard Eritrean and Ethiopian Students Association co-sponsored the event in partnership with the Harvard Foundation.

“It’s important to get together and celebrate the different cultures and the differences across the diaspora,” Jahrel K. Noble ’26, vice president of the HBSA, said.

The stories shared included tales about pythons, tigers and crocodiles that taught lessons about greed and wisdom.

Louisa A. Agyemang ’25 told a story from her childhood about Ananse the spider, a well-known West African cultural figure.

“Growing up, my mom would tell us folktales, it's a very integral part of the Ashanti culture,” Agyemang said.

“In times past, you’d have everybody in the town come together under the moonlight, and then they all gather around, and somebody would be in the middle telling a story. So it’s a really integral way of building the community and keeping people together,” she added.

Maria A. Foust ’28 presented a story about children stealing a strawberry pie that she learned from her family.

“My mama was a part of the Society of Black Storytellers, and so growing up, she always gave us these little stories that she either heard from her past or she heard from her conventions or that she came up with,” Foust said.

“She would host events like this, and she would bring her storyteller friends, and they would all share things like this,” Foust added.

Dwomoh similarly grew up listening to folktales, particularly about Ananse the spider.

“I remember growing up always being so excited to listen to my uncle and my parents tell me these stories, especially before bed,” she said. “It was always a very cozy environment where I’d sit around in a circle with my siblings and listen to these stories from the elders. So for me, I know that folktale stories have been something that helps me to connect to my Ghanaian culture.”

Students in attendance appreciated the opportunity to connect with Black spaces at Harvard.

“I needed a pick-me-up today, and I knew that coming to this event and listening to stories would not only inspire me, but remind me of why it’s so important to keep going in spite of hard days like today,” Elizabeth I. Ogolo ’25 said.

Dwomoh said that she hopes to keep the tradition alive by continuing to host similar events at Harvard.

“I feel like we need to keep telling these folktale stories so that they don’t die out. I really hope to continue doing this event and even have more opportunities in the future to continue telling these stories,” said Dwomoh.