Coming Home ... Our Family Tells Stories 1 “In The Tradition ...” 30th Annual National Black Storytelling Festival Congratulations National Association of Black Storytellers Still Hunting and Making Music and Telling Stories ...After All These Years Judge Tom Gene Curtis 2 Coming Home ... Our Family Tells Stories Greetings From The Co-Founder “A little shrub may grow into a big tree.” – Sudan “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works…” Matthew 5:16 Dear Friends & Family of The National Association of Black Storytellers, “Ring-a-ling-ling, Ring-a-ling-ling!” Storytelling bells are ringing! “Well, oh, Well, Well! It’s Sto---rytelling time!” Peace and Blessings! Amani, Imani, Ife and Namaste. Peace faith, love and warm greetings to all of you. Karibu! Welcome to the “In The Tradition…” 30th Annual National Black Storytelling Festival & Conference: “Coming Home…Our Family Tells Stories!” Yes, my sisters, brothers and children, we have come home to the great city of Baltimore to share our stories of respect, gratitude, service, history and love. On the shoulders of the Ancestors…We stand. On the everlasting wisdom of the Elders…We lean. On the promise of our children’s Future…We lift up! In 1975, on the grounds between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, Mother Mary Carter Smith and I met at the Festival of American Folk Life sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution where both of us were featured storytellers. We discussed the idea of one day, someday, having a festival that would preserve and cherish storytelling from the African diaspora. Storytelling is a survival tool for a people, an elixir for living and the response to the phenomena of nature. As you partake in the richness of this festival, hopefully you will discover that we tell stories in many styles and in many forms. We drum them, we dance them, we wear the stories we tell and wrap them around our souls. “Wrap me up in mudcloth, Kuba around my feet Indigo for my bed, A piece of that Kente for my head Grandma’s quilt draped on my shoulders, Adinkra hugging my hips Cowrie shells across my chest, A piece of that applique for my dress.” Asante sana! A big thank you to the following: The City of Baltimore, The Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards, The Griot Circle of Maryland, Inc., Keepers of The Culture, The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Dylan Pritchett, Festival Director, Janice Curtis Greene Co-Director and Griots’ Circle President, Caroliese Frink Reed, Barbara Eady, Fellisco Keeling, Carolyn Carroll, Eslyn Hinmon, Jana Long and Rebecca Hoffberger, Founder & Director of the American Visionary Art Museum. Asante sana to our NABS Board of Directors, Akbar Imhotep-President, Executive Director, Vanora Legaux, National Program Directors Baba Jamal Koram, Bunjo Butler and Elisha Minter. Also, many thanks to Linda Gorham, Mama Edie Armstrong and those who gave of their time on Festival Committees. A special asante sana to Charlie Brown for his continued support and dedication. Also, special thanks to the fourteen affiliates of NABS for their support and love! A “Blue Butterfly” is flying above our heads. “Angels” are watching us from on high. Enjoy and reclaim your story! “Spread The Word,” Mama Linda – Co-Founder “Be grateful to the tree so that it may yield more fruits.” – Shona 3 “In The Tradition ...” 30th Annual National Black Storytelling Festival Greetings From The President Greetings 30th Anniversary Festival & Conference Attendees: On behalf of the Board of Directors, our Co-Founders Mama Linda Goss and the late Mother Mary Carter Smith and our membership, I greet you in the peace, love, harmony and in the joy of a moment that promises to be filled with a lifetime of memories and unforgettable storytelling! CAN YOU FEEL IT??? The buzz has been growing for thirty years. The call went out at the beginning of time. You have responded to the call. SPREAD THE FEELING!!! CAN YOU HEAR IT??? Vibrations are everywhere. Covered drums are humming. Rhythms are ready to be unleashed. From our heartbeats to the pulse of the universe, we are tuning into our story. LISTEN!!! CAN YOU SEE IT??? Outfits have been chosen and coordinated. Our African-ness changes the dynamics of wherever we land. Our faces and smiles reflect our commitment to a shared mission. LOOK! SEE! ENJOY! We have “Come Home” to Baltimore, the center of the Blackstorytelling universe, to tell our stories, embrace our colleagues and drink from the well of inspiration. We have “Come Home” to fellowship and be re-baptized in our love of stories and the love we have for each other. We have “Come Home” to celebrate our stories, our mission, ourselves and to renew our commitment to telling our stories “In the Tradition…” Thank you for making this historic moment possible! Asante sana to the Griots’ Circle of Maryland for being such awesome hosts as they welcome us Home! Enjoy our 30th Anniversary Festival and Conference. Spread the word about what you see and experience here. You have answered the call and know that you will be changed. Respectfully and sincerely yours “In the Tradition…”, Akbar Imhotep/President 4 Coming Home ... Our Family Tells Stories Greetings From The Festival Director Welcome Home! This year’s festival marks a milestone. Thirty years celebrating the African oral tradition is a major accomplishment of purpose, honor, respect and commitment to make a difference in our families, communities, state, country and the world. We have been truly blessed to be among the few national organizations that have survived. But, that’s what we do…survive! The National Association of Black Storytellers have survived because of the vision of our Co- Founders, Mother Mary Carter Smith and Mama Linda Goss, the support of our affiliates, members, committed past and present Board members, hosting affiliates and like-minded communities throughout the country, being lead by the ancestral voices and the many, many, many NABS supporters who have given of their time, energy, donations and spirit along the way. This year, like no other, we will honor all of these efforts by presenting the best Festival & Conference EVER as we celebrate “Coming Home…Our Family Tells Stories!” Although this year marks NABS’ accomplishments of thirty years, I’d be remiss to not acknowledge the other twenty-nine years! Affiliates, and individual members, who have hosted our annual reunion must be praised for taking on the challenge to invite us to their city and provide a foundation for the continuance of our mission and building our organization and shaping our Festival & Conferences. This year represents their vital “breath” that has afforded us the opportunity to have our NABS voice heard and felt. The Griots’ Circle of Maryland, Inc. has done a masterful job in keeping this tradition alive with their dedication, hard work and planning to honor that tradition. Asante sana to them and the other twenty-nine!!! Our prayer is that once you reflect back on ”Coming Home..” you will feel inspired, honored, rejuvenated and empowered. We want you to feel that all of your efforts and sacrifices were worth it and you can’t wait for next year’s gathering. So, WELCOME to “Coming Home…Our Family Tells Stories!” There truly is no place like home! The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now! - African Proverb Dylan Pritchett 5 “In The Tradition ...” 30th Annual National Black Storytelling Festival Storytellers, Story Listeners, Story Singers & Story Lovers, On behalf of our ancestor beloved and founder, Mother Mary Carter Smith, the Griots' Circle of Maryland, Inc. welcomes you to Baltimore for our 30th Annual "In the Tradition..." Festival Conference. & Wow! Has it been 30 years already? Yes, it's been 30 years since the vision for a platform for Black Storytellers was conceived by Mama Mary Carter Smith and Mama Linda Goss in 1982 and the first festival was held at Baltimore's Morgan State University. Baltimore is not only the home of our -­‐ beloved co founder Mother Mary Carter Smith and ancestor Mother Mary Carter Smith it is the current Founding Ancestor home of co-­‐founder Mama Linda Goss. Baltimore is home to Linda Jenkins Brown and Tunki Baltimore Baku. is known Janice Curtis Greene, nt Preside for Chesapeake Bay blue crabs and Maryland fried chicken. Baltimore offers the Inner Harbor, National Great Blacks in Robert Smith, P Vice resident Wax Museum, Hampton National Historic Site, Benjamin Deborah Fakunle, Treasurer Banneker Historical Park and Museum, Reginald Lewis Museum, Eubie Blake Center, Motherhouse of the Oblate William Starke, Financial Secretary Sisters of Providence and the historic Arena Players Theater of which Mother Mary Carter Smith was a founding member. Patricia Dennis, Recording Secretary Gather 'round the for table a Homecoming as Our Family Ruth Wickham, Corresponding Tells Stories. Hear the story Elders of how Jim & June Secretary McAbee planned a wedding in 3 months for $500 that turned into a 61 year honeymoon. Mama Celebrate Edna S. Bunjo Butler, Director Growing Ruff's 90th birthday. Delight in tales of Anansi & Brer Griots Literacy Learning Program Rabbit. Share tales of triumph over tragedy, lies and laughter, family and faith. Share your stories with us as P.O. Box 68064 Baltimore, MD 21215 NABS ushers in a new decade of preserving and 410-­‐788-­‐3555 perpetuating Black History, Folklore and Stories in the [email protected] African Oral Tradition. www.griotscircleofmarylandinc.org Welcome to Baltimore, "The Center of the Universe"! 6 Coming Home ... Our Family Tells Stories Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Alpha Zeta Chapter MTFF 25TTFFH ANNIVERSARY CEBRATION Greetings from the President of Alpha Zeta Chapter November 14, 2012 Sherl B.