Harvard College students honored, roasted, and performed for Emmy Award-winning comedian Dan Aykroyd, who was named Artist of the Year at the 24th Annual Cultural Rhythms Festival on Saturday.
The event, organized by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, celebrates Harvard’s cultural and ethnic diversity through the artistic performances and culinary offerings from more than 60 student organizations.
First held under former University President Derek C. Bok, Cultural Rhythms has since expanded to include an afternoon roast of Aykroyd, a luncheon in Kirkland dining hall, a Food Festival in the Science Center, and two shows in Sanders Theater featuring songs, dances, and costumes from across the globe.
Aykroyd, whose daughter is a freshman at The College, supports the Dream Foundation and Artists Against Racism. In winning this award, he joins humanitarian artists including Halle Berry, Salma Hayek, and Denzel Washington.
As Artist of the Year, Aykroyd acted as afternoon emcee and infused humor into the show through comic commentary.
But some audience members said they were offended by the nature of Aykroyd’s jokes.
“I thought some of his comments were definitely not the most tasteful,” said audience member Abigail S. Brown ’11.
College Dean Evelynn M. Hammonds and Harvard Foundation Director S. Allen Counter presented Aykroyd with his Artist of the Year Award, which also bore the signature of University President Drew G. Faust.
In his acceptance speech, Aykroyd spoke about the importance of the “collaborative spirit.”
“You can have diverse, autonomous cultures everywhere and then be unified as human beings,” Aykroyd said in an interview. “[Diversity] can knit together all different constituencies to bring home a better vision and a better execution of our life on the plant.”
Best known for his roles in “Saturday Night Live,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” and “Ghostbusters,” Aykroyd is also the founder of the House of Blues, a music club chain.
Prior to the afternoon show, Aykroyd attended a breakfast with freshman in Annenberg Hall.
He was also roasted by the cast of On Harvard Time, who joked about Aykroyd’s interest in UFOs and alien abduction as well as his recent motion picture with Hilary Duff.
According to the afternoon show directors Jacqueline C. Hairston ’10 and Nworah B. Ayogu ’10, Cultural Rhythms requires months of planning by 15 interns and 2 staff members.
Counter said that Cultural Rhythms is now characterized by collaboration that crosses ethnic and cultural lines.
“The African Dance Troupe is now mixed with students of European, Latino, and other backgrounds who just like African music and African dance,” Counter said.
“We think that’s what Harvard is all about,” he said.
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