On Thursday, June 14, the Hofstra community lost a friend and student who is remembered as being “intelligent,” “witty,” “eloquent,” “spiritual” and “larger-than-life.” Maasai Jones, a rising junior, English major and Honors College student, passed away while at home in California. He is survived by his mother, father, brother and extended family from Fiji.
Chris Bounds, a senior public relations major, remembers Maasai as an individual who was full of life. “When Maasai was in a room with you, I can’t describe it. His smile made you want to be happy,” he said. “That’s what I felt like every time I saw him.”
Friends expressed their appreciation for his unwavering selflessness and optimism, speaking of times when Maasai tried to make a difference in the world even if it was just bringing a smile to a face or laughter to a room. “We were at S.O.S. Brigade and we played back a track of some music that he made. In that very moment I was envious of Maasai because he was listening to his own music and he was loving it. He was dancing. I immediately looked up to him,” Bounds said.
Whether it be a simple text, phone call or house visit, Maasai put friends and family above all else. He especially stayed connected to and remained proud of his family in Fiji, where his mother was born. When the national rugby team from Fiji played in California recently, his family opened their home to the players and relatives who were visiting.
“[He] was always trying his best to make things positive and was a person who was trying to help people find themselves and a better understanding of who they are. He used his own self reflection to help people self reflect,” said Dimitrus Graziani, a junior film major.
Maasai was both artistically and academically gifted, as his professors and peers observed. “I can say Maasai was an exceptional student, one of the most insightful readers and talented writers I’ve ever had the good fortune to have in class,” said Vimala Pasupathi, associate dean of the Honors College. “All the faculty I know who knew him agreed that he was uniquely gifted.”
This passion helped him find a home in the on-campus music production club S.O.S. Brigade, of which Bounds is the Vice President. Maasai immersed himself in the local underground hip hop and rap scenes, performing under the name Kamikaze Samurai Posse alongside Graziani.
The pair opened for Robb Banks and Dash at Amityville Music Hall. Last semester, Maasai performed as a solo act at the annual Liberty Live Concert presented by Hofstra Concerts. “Maasai is just so vivid. For someone that doesn’t say a lot he will call you out. It didn’t feel like anyone else was in the room. It felt like it was just Maasai. The presence that he garnered, his energy just brought you toward him,” said Tyler Leidy, a junior television and production major and Maasi’s former roommate.
Bounds recalled Maasai’s unique ability to write potent lyrics. “Laugh when I’m stressing about the shit I can’t choose,” Maasai sang in his song “Bussdown.”
Maasai, also known as “sai” on SoundCloud, viewed Kendrick Lamar as a musical idol, but did not try to emulate him. “Maasai wanted to be Maasai,” Leidy said, pointing out that he prided himself on his unique sound.
Although Maasai is perhaps best remembered for his wit and sense of humor, as evident in his lyrics, those who knew him noted that he never shied away from the “heavier” topics.
Maasai relished in the opportunities to openly, and sometimes heatedly, discuss the meaning of life, religion, race and injustices but made sure to leave room for lighter subjects like anime and gymnastics. “He always lightened the mood by cracking jokes. He was never too serious. He made sure everyone in the room felt comfortable. He tried to make sure everything was as light as possible,” Graziani said.
Amy Baehr, professor of philosophy, recounted the time when Maasai attended a discussion on essays by social critic James Baldwin. “The essays clearly touched him and his contributions to the discussion were lucid and moving – there was silence as he spoke, everyone paying rapt attention to the serious and eloquent young man he was,” said Baehr, who taught Maasai in her Philosophy of Race and Racism class.
“Maasai had a wry sense of humor and a delightful kind of glee in response to the often confused, ridiculous and absurd things that came up in our class discussions – things from our texts, experiences in our lives, things we said (professors and students alike),” said Dr. Anthony Dardis, professor of philosophy and a co-professor for the Philosophy of Race and Racism class. “He had an intriguing and surprising way of finding a sidelong way of looking at a question,” he said.
Maasai’s intelligence and eloquence were not limited to academic papers. He was interested in poetry, film, literature, philosophy and music. Maasai was a student at a university, but more of a student of life and art. Though for Maasai, life and music were virtually interchangeable.
“Maasai was the best teacher I ever had. I learned something from him everyday. The best teachers I’ve ever had knew that they needed to learn with you to teach with you and he was great at that. He always wanted to learn and teach,” Leidy said.
There will be a memorial concert for Maasai on Friday, Oct. 5. For further information, or if community members wish to contribute, contact Vimala Pasupathi at engvcp@hofstra edu.
