Ann Joyce Biersteker

Ann and I graduated from the same doctoral program, though many years apart, and I was delighted to bring her back about ten years ago when we celebrated the department’s 50th anniversary. I used her book Masomo ya Kisasa many times while teaching intermediate Swahili. She was a lovely person.

Ann and I were colleagues at Yale University from my arrival at Yale in 1989 as Lector in isiZulu to her departure for MSU in 2015. We collaborated on many projects for the Program in African Languages, and I recall with particular pleasure the annual African Languages Skit Night, which became an ever longer and often hilarious evening of impressive performances created entirely by our students.
I have deep respect for Ann's knowledge of Kiswahili language and literature and for her...

I corresponded with Ann only a few months ago about a scholarly project that I am working on involving Central Kenya Bantu languages. I reached out to Ann having heard that she might have a copy of some old unpublished manuscripts by Patrick Bennett, who she had worked with decades ago. Through our correspondence, she got the sad news that Patrick had passed away just a few years ago. Although we didn't know each other previously, Ann graciously offered to help me find the materials I was...

Ann was a beacon for international understanding and human connection. She was a kind and caring colleague during the time that we worked together at MSU, who tirelessly advocated for African languages and cultures. She trained and supported countless students and colleagues and was transformative in her dedication not just to language learning but to cultivating an understanding of the beauty of African languages through poetry and song. She is beloved and will be greatly missed.