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i is - wsrenboo CHIONICLE - Wednesday. January 12. 2011 1 e , o I o O o o : ert s Ioumey shares rwh African storytelling traduwn at Regwnal Museum ,’ BY Musmuan living in Canada. 1 Special tothe Chronicle - “Africa is rich in oral tradition, ; v ‘ and storytelling was just a part of i or centuries, Africa has been my life.” said Badoe, an educator dubbed “the dark continent,” and African dance instructor living shrouded in mystery and leg- in Guelph. “When i was young. I end. enjoyed reading a lot when I went “That‘s how Africa has been to school. and l wasinspiredbythe ' } portrayed from the pastall the way stories i heard. so I also liked ’ right up to the present.” said telling them â€" not knowing that [ Adwoa Badoe. a renowned West one day i would be a'griot (a West , African storyteller who will be per- African storyteller). l forming at the Waterloo Region “And what i will be doing when Museum next week. “I don‘t think i come to Waterloo is tracing the it is a dark continent though. i see vibrant stories of Africans at home it as a bright continent.” in the bright continent and i , She will be sharing some of throuyiout the world through folk *\ ,' 3,} ‘ f ~_ those stories about Africa's rich tale, myth, and history. I will be 3? .' __‘ grist it history that she hopes changes accompanied by a drummer to : 6'7":- ““5319 i5“ that perception. support some of the singing I do. ‘ no i X :53, “i did a story in my perform-' and i hope for an interactive per- 1," §\ .‘ 7 \ ' a} 1 ance. Griot‘s Journey. about the formance as I may sing with my , N ‘. ‘ ’ (i3 (Q \- , é} , 1331‘: a; first king of Mali, Sundiata Keita.” audience aswell" "‘5' â€"' a“ ' .“g l , {i1}?! } -. ; Badoe said. “Mali was a great Entertaining audiences of all ,e ' “3:; 1“."’,\\(-‘._ ‘ ‘ __._ “f empire (in the 13th century), and ages through various performanc- “,3 ,RZr‘}: " ,~ :7", 1:",- ~.r while l was researching this epic es. her website AfroCulture.corn ~. g :- » . L32“ ~. jf‘ K {T‘- . . story i learned a- .. v; s t a t e s ’: _> 1.3? ' ’ #4 SEE}. that the story- ”ti; - ‘(Badoe's) NW ;f‘ k, _ wry-«£6 7,1, . tellers back then .f ' w 5: 3,; classes and $1? 23x3: - , ~ described Mali 13%, workshops (“at .3 as the 'bright ‘ " a, is ‘ . have a unique ~. .17.; ‘ . 5' country.‘ ~ 1. andinfectious ‘ "‘ , ‘ because of all - 7. V vibrancy. cap- The African uorytelling tradition features song. dance and drumming with plenty of audience participation as - the sunshine in luring . the people hear oral histories not often shared with North America audiences. thearea. 'essence of the . mm "1 was very people, Elle“ cationai. if i do a story on. say. Milton. alongwith the internation- deep in tradition that i wish to .intrigued by celebrations (African-American abolitionist) a] Children's Festival in Missis- shareI‘hisisabout Attica." those words and their lives" Harriet Tubman, which is {story sauga. among many other places. bright country, ~ ” In her “Sits that we all need to know about. I Badoe it also an author. having andiiust 13m! it. , go a sclnoohs, can do it withoutptmbingthe meeâ€" published more than 15 boom Griot’s IoumeyzA 50 ‘ ma e "“3 , " a 09 en 5 down e’sthroats. lt‘san Canada. the United Kingd' om think how peo- ; é j the cultural arts mnmt 51:05.] but can be done Africa. ' mmry ofAfi-loa pie in 01h" ' 0‘ storytelling. in a very entertaining fashion with “Being an anthem, an educator, and Dispom parts or the dance and lotsgfartistry,andlthinkanybody andanartist.for me.lthinkitisall world never see hand drum- can come and have a good time.” intertwirted.’ Badoe said. '1 would . this. while peo- mine. Wi‘b Badoe's performance next week n't be an educator if i wasn't an Featuring storyteller MW“ ple who “V9 in plenty 0‘ “I" is part of the historical storytelling artist. And because l'm artist. l’m W Africa see it as a and-response series presented by Friends of an educator. ifthatmakessense? Jammy 18,7p.m. , ‘ bright conti- mm audience P3" Waterloo Region Museum in part- ‘When I came to Canada, l “WWW , nent. This is ticipation. She nership with the Story Barn in learned there was an audience lOHumnMKltchener , howwe seeourselvm” is especially busy in February. vis- Baden. held on the third nudity here who listened. so that’s how i Wmfls- “2an Growing up in Ghana, West iting classrooms in celebration of ofjanuary. fibm’andm just wandered into this, and uldstudents. Africa. Badoe loved the traditional Black WOW Month. in recent years, she has per- because stories are such a big part PM more information V13“ dances of her native country, but “I do a lot of stuff in the comâ€" formed at both the Toronto and bflnyflfef WWW-WWW never dreamed she would one munlty,” Badoe said. ‘My story- Montreal Story Telling mum, And they‘re stories that need to com . day be a professional storyteller telling is art. but it's also very edu- writing festivals in men Mills and be told. These are stories rooted . . Janualg‘yl 10thTh Fecobruaty 6th a...” « ‘. e icio 3 rec urse - :3. 83 Erb Street West Lu h $20 - 595 “99”!“ R03}! .‘ ' Waterloo, Ontario . . “I“: Catnbfldgei Ontario . 519â€"747â€"5622 Dehcrous Three Course 5 19621-4180 ‘ sole-ca Dinner $30 ‘ blaCkShOP-Ca L , . __ â€"‘-