The African and African American Studies (AAAS) program hosted a sweetgrass basket weaving workshop in the Honors Center on April 3.
The program invited renowned weaver Sarah Hammond to teach attendees about the history of sweetgrass basket weaving and share her expertise with the craft.
During the event, students were able to weave their own baskets while learning about the tradition and finding their own way to express themselves with this new activity.
“I’ve always especially loved Charleston and seen the sweetgrass baskets and it’s always been something that I wanted to do since I’m a really crafty person,” Roni McManus, freshman pre-nursing major, said.
On a mission to promote the artistic expressions of African culture, AAAS presented students with an opportunity to practice the tradition. Designed to be interdisciplinary and comprehensive, this program offers students a well-rounded journey through the diverse histories and cultures of individuals of African descent. During the two sessions, students were able to immerse themselves in the heritage of sweetgrass basket weaving while honing their own craft.
Hammond, who is now a master in the art of sweetgrass weaving, guided attending participants through the intricate steps of this cherished tradition that originated in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina.
Throughout the event, she shared anecdotes of her upcoming in the craft, as her family lineage is steeped in the art of sweetgrass basket weaving.
“My mother did baskets after she married my dad because she was from an area that didn’t make baskets,” Hammond said. “I started at the age of seven and I stopped for a long time, but I have about 50 years of experience.”
For participants, the session was not only a lesson in craftsmanship but a journey of cultural discovery into the history of the tradition. Some had even gained a newfound appreciation for the much-needed effort behind creating each basket. As the workshop progressed, participants found themselves not merely learning a craft, but immersing themselves in a living tradition – a
tradition that required not just skill, but patience and perseverance.
“The technique is so unique, and I will never complain about the price again,” Hammond said. “It’s something that I would like to see continue going on. A lot of the young people, they are doing baskets.”
The workshop not only focused on learning a craft but about reclaiming a piece of history. The
tradition continues to thrive as a highly cherished cultural practice even in today’s society.
At the workshop’s end, participants left not only with a new skill for basket weaving but a much deeper appreciation for the people and stories woven into each stand of sweetgrass. They also concluded their journey, each carrying with them a piece of history and expression carefully woven into their own individual creations.
“The thing about it is to see the expression on their faces when they finish the piece,” Hammond said. “It inspires me and it gives them a better knowledge of doing baskets.”
In hosting this workshop, AAAS fulfilled its mission to foster cultural appreciation and understanding, inviting individuals from all walks of life to unite in celebration of diversity and heritage.
The AAAS program holds several events like the sweetgrass basket workshop throughout the school year where individuals can experience different areas of African and African American culture.