Alum brings local students to Africa

Lovely Hoffman's mission to learn about the culture and explore the heritage of Africa began with the release of her new single, "Motherland." Now, six lucky high school students will accompany her on a 10-day trip to Senegal.

Hoffman was born in Boston's Roxbury Orchard Park and attended Boston Public Schools. She was offered a record deal before graduating high school, but chose to attend college instead. According to her Myspace page, she did not want to give up her academic goals and wanted to take the time to grow.

Hoffman attended Boston College and was one of the founders and captain of Females Incorporating Sisterhood Through Step (FISTS), BC's women's step team, during her undergraduate years. She continued on to pursue her master's degree at BC.

After graduating from college, her fame grew as she performed with artists such as Ne-Yo and T-Pain, and she gained national notoriety with her single "Can't Wait."

Now, Hoffman has taken on a new challenge. She has decided to take six students from Smith Leadership Academy, a charter school in Dorchester, Mass., with her to Senegal.

The 10-day trip sprung from "Motherland," which "teaches fans and listeners the countries and capitals in Africa," said a recent press release from 100 Decibels Music Group.

The press release highlights the differences between most contemporary R&B music and Hoffman's new song, and said "'Motherland' is an upbeat, educational song that ignites intellectual rather than sexual stimulation."

The song is arranged to Slum Village's 2004 Kanye West-produced single "Selfish." The song begins with the lyrics, "A-F-R-I-C to the A, Africa is the place of the human race," and, according to the press release, it "rhymes each country and capital in a sing-a-long fashion that aids not only in memory and recall but also in phonetic pronounciations as well."

The trip, which came after the release of the single, began on April 18. During their 10 days in Africa, "the students will be introduced to the trades and crafts of shoe and drum making, fishing, as well as sailing. The students will also tour Goree Island to experience first-hand the torment and inhumane conditions of their African ancestors during the Atlantic Slave Trade," said the press release.

The main purpose of the journey is to show students a side of Africa often ignored in its negative portrayals by the media. "This trip is about community building, developing a love of self, pride, and connecting to the land we are so far removed from," Hoffman said. With this trip, she is trying to bring students closer to that distant land.

Hoffman said both her music and the trip served a larger goal to which she was devoted. "I write and create music to inspire and educate, and this trip, along with the release of my single, is part of my effort to serve my community and inspire our children to become leaders," Hoffman said.

Hoffman hopes that the trip can become an annual event for students in the years to come. This first trip required fundraising and support from the community, which was supplemented by Hoffman, who organized fundraisers and performed at local events to cover the trip's costs.

"Lovely hopes that this trip and her 'Motherland' release can encourage people to explore the many other countries of Africa, as well as inspire more people to dedicate time and energy to serving their own communities," said the press release.