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What is the African American Storytellers Retreat?
". . . to be able to speak in significant situations. . ." Tehuti
Opportunities for workshops, residencies and organizational training programs The Storytellers' Retreat is a program of
AASAI, Inc.
African American Storytelling Arts Institute, Inc.
The mission of the Retreat has been, during it's twenty five years of existence, to gather storytellers and other lovers of African/American culture to involve themselves in four expressions of culture:
Music Movement Visual Arts The Spoken Word
In each year of its existence, the Retreat has had storytelling workshops to deepen our understanding of the place of Blackstorytelling (one word)
in the social fabric of our people.
We have told stories, made instruments and played
instruments, and prayed, and circled up and healed and danced, and planted trees to honor our ancestors, and some have added African names to befit their new understandings of their kinship to Afrakan culture.
Most of all we have shared ourselves and our families in creating a cultural community. These are important
activities. The need for dedicated folk artists, pioneers of culture and righteous performance personalities has increased, and this is the training ground, this retreat is where the
“words we speak are the deeds we do.
The Retreat Is
BUILDING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN STORYTELLING VILLAGE
An Afrakan village is the past, present, and future experiences of Black people. It is a haven, a place of assurance, reliance and creativity. It is a place to build.
Harambee na Masakhane = Pull together and rebuild
Mwalimu:
Baba Jamal Koram,
B.A.,M.S., Ed.S
". . . to be able to speak in significant situations. . ." Tehuti
Opportunities for workshops, residencies and organizational training programs The Storytellers' Retreat is a program of
AASAI, Inc.
African American Storytelling Arts Institute, Inc.
The mission of the Retreat has been, during it's twenty five years of existence, to gather storytellers and other lovers of African/American culture to involve themselves in four expressions of culture:
Music Movement Visual Arts The Spoken Word
In each year of its existence, the Retreat has had storytelling workshops to deepen our understanding of the place of Blackstorytelling (one word)
in the social fabric of our people.
We have told stories, made instruments and played
instruments, and prayed, and circled up and healed and danced, and planted trees to honor our ancestors, and some have added African names to befit their new understandings of their kinship to Afrakan culture.
Most of all we have shared ourselves and our families in creating a cultural community. These are important
activities. The need for dedicated folk artists, pioneers of culture and righteous performance personalities has increased, and this is the training ground, this retreat is where the
“words we speak are the deeds we do.
The Retreat Is
BUILDING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN STORYTELLING VILLAGE
An Afrakan village is the past, present, and future experiences of Black people. It is a haven, a place of assurance, reliance and creativity. It is a place to build.
Harambee na Masakhane = Pull together and rebuild
Mwalimu:
Baba Jamal Koram,
B.A.,M.S., Ed.S
Registration
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African American Storytelling Arts Institute .
". . . to be able to speak in significant situations. . ." Tehuti
Building An African American Storytelling Village -
AASAI 3213 Duke Street #629 Alexandria, VA 22314
703.684.8587
African American Storytelling Arts Institute - Mission and Purpose
About the African American Storytelling Arts Institute (AASAI)
The African American Storytelling Arts Institute assists in the development of educultural programs
and training, in storytelling, for professionals and non-professionals to advance
and sustain Afram Oral Traditions.
AASAI began in 1991 as the brainchild
of storyteller Baba Jamal Koram, Ed.S.
Its purpose is to establish the African Oral Tradition as a visible cultural imperative
in educational, cultural and social settings, and to orient individuals to the process of
becoming conscious storytellers.
AASAI includes educational and cultural programs and workshops, performances,
tours, lectures, publications and other media productions.
Based on over twenty years of national- and international storytelling experience in
the African oral tradition, the AASAI workshops and resident programs provide training
experience necessary to master the skills of storytelling. The workshops provide an :
Opportunities for first hand guided instructions by an experienced storyteller
The residential program, is a more extended and in-depth training program.
It includes an introductory workshop, which emphasizes traditional styles,
phrasing, language and cultural motifs which support basic African centered
values and concepts. AASAI is only one, of a few institutions in the USA, which
provides exclusive training in the African/African American oral traditions
of storytelling.
". . . to be able to speak in significant situations. . ." Tehuti
Building An African American Storytelling Village -
AASAI 3213 Duke Street #629 Alexandria, VA 22314
703.684.8587
African American Storytelling Arts Institute - Mission and Purpose
About the African American Storytelling Arts Institute (AASAI)
The African American Storytelling Arts Institute assists in the development of educultural programs
and training, in storytelling, for professionals and non-professionals to advance
and sustain Afram Oral Traditions.
AASAI began in 1991 as the brainchild
of storyteller Baba Jamal Koram, Ed.S.
Its purpose is to establish the African Oral Tradition as a visible cultural imperative
in educational, cultural and social settings, and to orient individuals to the process of
becoming conscious storytellers.
AASAI includes educational and cultural programs and workshops, performances,
tours, lectures, publications and other media productions.
Based on over twenty years of national- and international storytelling experience in
the African oral tradition, the AASAI workshops and resident programs provide training
experience necessary to master the skills of storytelling. The workshops provide an :
- introduction to the art of storytelling
- History of the African oral tradition of storytelling,
- History of the universal tradition of storytelling
- Practical steps in selecting and telling stories
Opportunities for first hand guided instructions by an experienced storyteller
The residential program, is a more extended and in-depth training program.
It includes an introductory workshop, which emphasizes traditional styles,
phrasing, language and cultural motifs which support basic African centered
values and concepts. AASAI is only one, of a few institutions in the USA, which
provides exclusive training in the African/African American oral traditions
of storytelling.
Programs of the African American Storytelling Arts Institute
- African American Storytellers’ Retreat
- Sankofa Youth Development & Leadership
- Ngoma Drum Circles
- Kijana Youth Apprenticeship
- Safiri: Journey to Our Heritage Tours
