Keepers Of The Culture Annual Family Day

Family Day 2005

On
October 24, 2004
Keepers Of The Culture
Presented
THE ADVENTURES OF AESOP!
(sorry no photos)
Sunday's On Stage at the Free Library of Philadelphia
FEATURING
AUNTIE JO JO
WATOTO OF JOY
ATIYA OLA SANKOFA
RON "BRO. DRUM" CARTER
EVELYN ANNE CUNNINGHAM
NASHID ALI as AESOP THE AFRICAN

Directed by Oni Lasana

Greetings KOTC Family & Friends!
Did you miss it!..well here's a Family Day I-view by Oni Lasana.

To those members who could not attend...The "Adventures of Aesop" was indeed a adventure for all! Sunday afternoon held a full house at the main library's Montogmery Auditorium...the stage was simply set for Aesop and his students. A little African doll was placed, to remind us of Denise Valentine who had came by the rehearsal the day before to bid us farewell before she left for South African.
What happened?
Thee most wonderful KOTC AESOP storytellers and the "Watoto of Joy" Ifetaya Brown, Kaliph Brown, Mark Brown, Aubrey Sawyer, Reagan Sawyer, Tyrek Brown, (Jawara's grandchildren) Eric Hammond, (Irma's son) Astarte McNeill, (Auntie JoJo's grand daughter) and LAST BUT NOT IN THE LEAST!!!!...Sister Caroliese' grand daughter, KYMBLE CLARK (remember that name) danced down the isles behind our loving and talented...BABA AESOP aka NASHID ALI...chanting and singing..."Aesop, Aesop Have you heard? What's the story? What's the word? Aesop! Aesop! The African...the brother told stories that are back again!"

The audience family listened closely as our sister of ceremony's, and a co-founder of KOTC introduced BROTHER AESOP in a rhyme written by our beloved Wanda Gigetts. Jawara’s brief bio-rhyme on the famed African slave, who's fables, lessons and morals have been handed down through the ages, properly introduced our president, NASHID ALI as AESOP, THE AFRICAN.

Our setting was once again in the imaginary KOTC village in Africa, under the baobab tree where Aesop was sharing his tales with a group of young storytellers from his village....coaching them on how to tell his fables, so that they can one day pass them on to others. Aesop brings his favorite tales to life with the help of his friends from the storytelling clan, Keepers Of The Culture!

Suddenly, the Watoto are in dispute over who should sit where, Baba Aesop calmly settled them down with his story…“Sticks In A Bundle“ the moral being "Unity is strength"... Aesop carried the "story/play" along, while the Watoto began to readjust the kufi on young brother Kaliph head…telling him to wear it this way and that…Brother Aesop needs help with this issue, so he notices another storytelling sfriend passing thru the village and he calls out to AUNTIE JOJO….she stepped out in a sing along rap/song, as the watoto snapped their fingers to and sing a chorus to “The Farmer, Son & Their Mule“ It was too cool…Auntie exites, but not before leaving us with the age old Aesop adage. ”You can please some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all of the time.”

Next…the Watoto verbally sparred over the “hair pic incident”…somebody took some bodies afro pick without asking! "Oh no they didn’t!" RON CARTER appeared as MR. FOX in a sly fox face mask to tell his version of “The Lion, Bear & The Fox" He took off as fast as he appeared.....Aesop warned the children of the lesson to be learned from Mr. Fox, who was later captured by a hunter… “Stealing is not good, when you need or want something always ask first!” To thunderous applause.

Our wonderful Watoto of Joy carried the show along with various incidents of youth, leading into the introduction of EVELYN CUNNINGHAM, telling about the virtue of being honest in “The Mermaid & The Woodcutter,” to JAWARA’S modern version of The Lion & The Mouse” aka The Ball Player & The Book Carrier…to ATIYA OLA’S stunning appearance dressed in a elegant outfit of white, portraying The Country Maid & Milkcan…she dramatized the lesson of “Appreciating the present, for tomorrow is not promised”…or as Aesop reiterated…”Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”….as the audience once again agreed in applause.

Next, the youth (Watoto) being astute students of Aesop offered to tell him a version of a fable he had told them before,….Aesop was pleased…and as the Watoto circled up around Tyrek (the grasshopper)…the chorus of “ants” warned him, “Hey Grasshopper, brother, we hate to burst your bubble, theirs a moral to this tale and your headed straight for trouble!”….the playful partytime….hungry Grasshopper ended up learning Aesop’s lesson the hard way….”Save for the future, and you won’t be without.”….then suddenly….STORYTELLING IRMA appears with guitar in hand driving the moral home with “The Grasshopper Blues“…on time and in tuned, that song was just what Grasshopper needed to feel a little better.

Aesop shared another lesson with the restless youth. “In our greed for more, we may lose what we already have.”…like in the Dog & the Biscuit….AUNTIE JOJO & ASTARTE McNEILL dressed in regal, colorful, matching African attire, delightfully delivered - “The Girl Who Cried Wolf“….as RON & EARL drummed along leaving a lingering lesson to be learned in “The Lion’s Share”….EVELYN…reminded Aesop and his students how “Appearances can be deceiving” with her captivating rendition of “The Cat, Rooster & The Mouse” …ATIYA OLA, the poetress appeared again, rhyming “The Dog In The Manger”….warning us with “Just because its not your taste, don’t let a good meal go to waste!”…..all the lessons were well taken, not only by Aesop’s young students but also by the audience, as they say, you could hear a pin drop. With families and young children in the audience, I must say this was a very attentive and intuned audience. Aesop is still a major star!

The finale was the highlight of the program. Brothers TYREK & MARK added their own unique delivery of action telling to the tale of “The Turtle & The Rabbit”…ERIC HAMMOND hit the story mark and added a spark!…with “The Wolf & His Shadow” …AUBREY SAWYER his sweet, sincere, matter of fact manner, warned everyone to “Be Yourself”…with his version of “The Turtle Who Wanted To Fly”….IFETAYA…our lovely young teenage sister, and the gracious lead Watoto player, delivered the final Aesop story, “The Fox & The Thirsty Goat”…leaving us with, “Think before you take action!” everyone listened.

Aesop asked who else had a story to tell (which was not in the script;-)…just then, the newest and youngest addition to of the Watoto of Joy!… KYMBLE CLARK…got the storytelling spirit and briskly rose to the occasion!… She stepped up to the microphone,….unrehearsed! and calmly begin to share her version of “The Big Bad Wolf” (Aesop step aside! Grimm’s Brothers in the house;-)!!!!…. KYMBLE is a storytelling force to be recognized!!!…as she held onto the mic her beautiful tiny black eyes sparkled in the stage lights…she glistened as the lights shined on her pretty dimpled dark chocolate cheeks…KYMBLE spoke into the mic clearly…“He dressed up like grandma“….and then….“He got in the bed”…and then?….this littlest storytelling star was determined to tell on the badness of that wolf!…. and then?… “da huntah killed him! The house fell apart with laughter and applause for this minute force of talent!… A star storyteller was born!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moral of this tale…”Fruit don’t fall far from the tree!”

What a joyful day to remember!….Asante sana,…kudos, much love and deep respect go out to Bro. Nashid for visualizing with me on “The Adventures of Aesop!” & kindly cooperating to make it come to life for KOTC and our wonderful audience. To all of my KOTC family…the wonderful Aesop storytellers who shined and stayed in tuned to the music we made together as you brought Aesop to life, you all were fab-u-lous!

The talented, gifted and wonderful…WATOTO OF JOY who bring a extra sparkle of JOY into my life, especially on Family Day. To their grandmothers, Jawara a living inspiration! Storytelling Irma…your musical talents are admired and deeply appreciated…your sons ERIC (Thee Thespian!)…& DRUMMING EARL are the best, I love them both. Thank you for being right where we needed you and in perfect pitch! ESTARTE, talented, outgoing and loving…thanks, what a pleasure to finally be in your company....we must see more of you! CARLA WILEY...Mother Read...the Aesop books were the hook! The decorating with the quilt, setting up, all the arrangements you so patiently took care of for us…KOTC loves you! I told you we would in Baltimore! PHILADELPHIA FREE LIBRARY STAFF for making it happen for our community...and last but not ever!…in the least…MISS KYMBLE CLARK…YOUR IN!!! Remember that name folks *!*

Sisterly Love, continually....
Oni
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~ ~ ~ DID YOU MISS 2004 FAMILY DAY? ~ ~ ~

See the photos below

KOTC was proud to present
"Anansi Stories with Music & Songs...Oh My!"

~ Featured ~

The Watoto of Joy
Brother Nashid Ali
Carla Wiley - Mother Read
Jeanette Mallory-Hill - Moonsong
Atiya Ola Sankofa - A Poetic Storyteller
Evelyn Cunningham - An Urban Conjure Woman

A Special Tribute To Gregory Hines
Performance by: Guest Tap Dancers - Teprakuh Corinaldi & David Martin

Creative Directors:
Joann Frasier Dasent aka Auntie Jo Jo “The Storyteller”
Irma Gardner-Hammond aka Storytelling Irma

Photos courtesy of Shirley E. Riley (c)2004


Sundays on Stage - Keepers OF The Culture, Inc.



Stage Setting by Coniqua Abdul Malik & Eyele Yutende



Playtime with Brother Nashid & Sarai Abdul Malik




Carla Wiley (makeup artist) with Evelyn Cunningham



Wendy Quick (children's coordinator) & Joann Frasier Dasent (director)



Brother Nahid, KOTC President - Welcomes the audience.



Oni Lasana, Symphony & Sierra Dixon came to enjoy the show!



Watoto of Joy - Tuwe Tuwe, a handclapping game from Ghana, West Africa.



Eric Hammond as Anansi The Spider with his mother, Storytelling Irma!



Jeanette Mallory Hill aka Moonsong - presented The Spider Weaver
"The Legend of the Kente Cloth"



Evelyn Cunningham aka Urban Conjure Woman
"Anansi Does The Impossible"



Carla Wiley aka "Mother Read"
Anansi And The Moss Covered Rock



Atiya Ola Sankofa aka "The Poetic Storyteller"
"Greedy Anansi"



Sarai Abdul Malik
"What's That I Smell?" Momma Sandi's version



Earl Hammond - A Rap Tribute to Gregory Hines
Teprakuh Corinaldi & David Martin - Special guest tap dancers



Brother Nashid
"Anansi Learns How To Boogie"



Bro. Nashid, Bro. Robb, Duke Wilson and friends



Storytelling Irma, Iona Nash, Creative Director,Auntie JoJo & friend



Doing a brush tap!

Teprekuh Corinaldi, Auntie JoJo, David Martin



Auntie JoJo, Edwina Giggs & daughter



Iona Nash of the Iona Nash Dance Ensemble greets a fan.


For more information or any other questions

Please e-mail us here!



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