We announce the passing of MaryAnn Christopher, who died on Aug. 31 in Maryland. Maryann Golden-Christopher was a multi-talented Virgin Islander. She was an educator, historian, artist, designer, writer, dance instructor, genealogist and so much more. One of Maryann’s great passions was the Bamboula Dance. Through this dance, she felt a spiritual connection with our African ancestors. The Bamboula was brought to the Danish West Indies by our enslaved African ancestors. For many years the Bamboula, along with the drums were banned by the Danes. The Danes had realized that the Bamboula was more than just a dance; it was a unifying force.
For many years the Bamboula was kept alive on St. Thomas by Mrs. Clara Matthias and her family. By the end of the 1970s, very few people had ever heard of the Bamboula. In the early 1980s, Maryann was first introduced to the dance by one of the Virgin Islands’ greatest cultural icons, Jean Esannason. Esannason was a social studies specialist who taught the dance to teachers in many schools, but Maryann Christopher was the one who took up the mantle. She started out at Joseph Gomez School with four teachers and their children who attended the school. Maryann had a way of getting people to do things that they never thought they could do. Many teachers, administrators and parents were taught the Bamboula by Maryann. Once Maryann got involved with anything, she put her heart and soul into it. So it was with the Bamboula; she, along with some of her friends, made the Bamboula regalia for adults and students.
For many years, this group participated in Cultural Night and joined in bringing Carnival to the patients and workers at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital. They performed for senior citizens at the Anna’s Retreat Senior Citizens’ Center and the Sea View Nursing Home. Gov. Alexander Farrelly took the group to St. Croix for the Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Transfer of these islands from Denmark to the United States. This group took part in the Folkloric Festival on the Reichhold grounds. This performance was aired numerous times by the Discovery Channel. Gov. Roy L. Schneider always made sure that the Bamboula Group was invited to functions at Government House.

Maryann has taught the Bamboula to principals, teachers, para-professionals, parents and, in some cases, whole families. She also made sure that her daughter, Allegra, knew how to dance the Bamboula.
She is survived by her daughter, Allegra Christopher-George; grandchildren: Nyicia Elizabeth George and Michael Anthony George II; sisters: Beatrice E. Grant, Jacqueline M. Golden and Sharon Ann Marcelli; brothers: John Arnold Golden, Eric M. Golden and Walter Golden; son-in-law, Michael A. George; sisters-in-law: Dolores Golden, Patricia Golden and Ada Golden; brother-in-law, Otha Grant; nieces: Kendall Golden-Tutein, Kathleen Golden, April Grant, Lena Grant, Patricia Golden-Sigler, Simone Motton-Hall and Michele McCray; nephews: Jonathan Golden, Stuart Golden, Sean Tutein, Antoine Golden, Daniel Tutein and William Tutein; and former husbands: Kenneth Christopher and Terrance M. Holland.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Tributes will be given from 9 -10 a.m. followed by the service at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Eastern Cemetery, Smith Bay.

All arrangements are by Davis Funeral Home, 774-1464.