NEWS & EVENTS
I have probably been telling stories since I could speak. My earliest memory of playing "drums" is around age 6 or 7. In my mind, I see tin cans placed on sticks stuck in the ground. I’m playing something James Brown’s drummer would play. I also see me sneaking up as drummers take a break or chatting while heating their drums by a fire. Or, with a piece of iron, tapping a driving part or meter of a rhythm (akin to the clavé in Cuban music) on a piece of metal or steel rod.
That is the reason I encourage young people (and adults) to find their own rhythm and in everything they do.
The saying goes, if you can speak you can sing, if you can walk you can dance. Singing or dancing as a profession that is a whole other matter altogether, though. Likewise, if you can speak you can tell a story. However, it also means you have to be a good listener and, overtime, develop the ability to colour and embellish a story while retaining the important part, i.e. the message the story seek to convey. the majority of Afrikan (and Afrikan people's) stories have a moral.
WHY I TELL STORIES
Storytelling is great meeting people and share, teach each other about our cultures. When I tell stories I come more alive. In the stories I can travel anywhere. I can be many different characters at once.
As the teller I can be a teacher, entertainer; singer, actor, musician. I can be a bad guy, I can be good. I can teach about resilience, respect, community, overcoming challenges, or just be funny.
I PLAY MY DRUMS
It is a great chance to play my drums and other instruments including found objects. Make great music.
WHERE DO STORIES COME FROM?
For me they come from listening to old people talk. Gathering around the fire, on the mat, outside under the moonlight listening to my mother, my father, grandmother, my friends grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunties from the village; in the market place, and wherever people talk. Reading books abour far off place is not bad either. Traveling, especially if you have a keen eye and ear ,is also a good source of new a9and old) stories.
The Millipede Family
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Father said, "come on it's time to go." Mother gathered herself and set off beside father. Little Millipede looked at her many, many feet, looked up at her father then her mother and said, "which foot do I move first?"
Mother and Father Millipede said, "just move, child, just move."