RIBS

 IT ALL STARTED IN A KITCHEN - OF COURSE!

Once upon a time, Valerie Tutson sat in Ramona Bass's kitchen, sharing food and visions. As way leads unto way, and food leads onto talk, (Oh, you remember those Sunday dinner discourses over dis' course and dat course, don't you?), Rhode Island Black Storytellers, aka RIBS, was born!

Now, here we are 5 years, 4 Funda Festivals, 2 Living Storybook Summers and a Spicy Rib later.... ready and willing to assess and strengthen our back bone. (For what is a RIB without a backbone? "A bunch of RIBLETS," Pauline Santos would say.) And so we did just that. On Saturday, November 1, fifteen RIBS members, supporters and friends, met, under the expert direction of Jennifer Davis-Allison, our organizational consultant, to assess, plan and strategize as Rhode Island Black Storytellers moves forward as a vibrant artistic and educational  force in  our community. But we also met to remember  who we are:

"Storytelling time is here/Storytelling time is here/ Storytelling time is here/ Tell us how she go!" sang Valerie Tutson, as storytellers, teachers, administrators, artists and various professionals joined in.  The day entailed a full agenda, but left plenty of time to share ideas and vision, and even included an impromptu midday yoga stretch, led by Abigail Jefferson. By the end of the day, our hopes and dreams were balanced with a clear sense of direction and a concrete "to-do" list, the first item being the development of our new Board of Directors in 2003. We can't do it all alone, but the support we felt from the attendees was inspiring and replenishing.  There have been and will continue to be bumps along the way, but, like Paula Sanders so beautifully shared in her original song, we will continue to sing "Our Journey's Song," together!

FUNDA FESTIVAL  FIVE!

Can you believe it? Not only is it great alliteration--- itÌs a great testimony of what perseverance (seasoned with a touch of insanity) can do! By now, anyone who has attended this weekend of dynamic black storytelling knows this is one of Rhode Island's winter highlights. Funda Festival will take place January 21 -26 in Providence, Woonsocket and Newport. This week-long festival begins in schools throughout the area, then culminates in 4 public performances, featuring storytellers of national and international renown and our own Rhode Island Black Storytellers.

This year's guest include Charlotte Blake-Alston, an international teller and composer based in Philadelphia, Derek Burrows, a melodic teller and voice coach who shares from his rich Bahamian background, and, as always, our beloved nationally renowned teller and drummer, Tejumola Ologboni! 

FUNDA means to teach and learn in Zulu and Kiswahili..... but to us, it also means a whole lot of FUN!
Don't let another tell you about a telling! --Come on and FUNDA!!!!!!

EXTRA SAUCE!

Just in case you wondered what your editor does in her spare time.......

Willie Thomas and Melodie Thompson jumped the broom October 12, 2002.
The wedding took place in their home, with their 6 children (ages 6 thru 23) as the bridal party.
What fun! God is so goooooooood!
(That's two "Ribette" remarriages within two years (?!)....... Maybe it's in da ribs!)

And speaking of sauce........

RIBS and Rites & Reason Theater  have cooked up something SPICY to warm your winter evening.

SPICY RIBS, Saturday, Dec 7,  featuring the storytelling talents of Len Cabral, Ramona Bass, Valerie Tutson and MC, Venus Irving-Prescott

GUESS WHO'S COMIN' TO DINNER??

In November 2003, RIBS will be joined by some tasty main courses from far and wide, as we host the National Association of Black Storytellers Conference and Festival 2003! Yes, little Rhody is the site for this 21st annual soul-stirring festival! Do I sound excited? You better believe it. Why?  Oh, I guess YOU'VE never been to a NABS Festival. Let me give you a glimpse:

Picture a roomful of African descendents, listening, swaying, calling and responding, as a tall ebony teller punctuates his story while tenderly plucking his kora. A beautiful dreadlocked sister improvises in harmony, and one by one, others join in. The story is sometimes of hope, sometimes of empowerment, and sometimes of just down-home fall-out laughter. Then someone starts drumming. And everybody's up! Oh, Suky,suky, now...

Oh, by the way, this is at 1AM -- AFTER the Saturday Night Storytelling Concert!

But that's NABS!  You see and experience the most talented, dynamic, memorable storytelling you've ever seen--- stories in word, song and even dance... but you also have the opportunity to be enriched by fellowship with folks who believe in the story beyond the performance. Folks who believe that the power of our past and the promise of our future is released through storytelling.  Folks who know that "laughter doeth good like medicine," or we woulda surely got sick and died a long time ago. And folks who love to shake their tales!!

This year at NABS 2002 in Baltimore, RIBS was represented by more members than had ever before attended at one time (and we even sold some sweatshirts!). We were refueled, inspired, challenged and enthused as we look towards hosting this national event next year. How will we do it? With a lot of commitment and sacrifice... but also with your help. If you are reading this newsletter and living in RIBS terrain (RI, MA, CT), there is probably something, big or small that you can do to help NABS  in Rhode Island be a success. Call Valerie Tutson, the Festival Co-coordinator @ 401-273-4013 if you want to be a part. Join us in this history making event!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Dec 16 -28 A Kwanzaa Song, @ Rhode Island College, Roberts Hall Auditorium. A musical play by RicardoPitts-Wiley. Make it part of your holiday tradition.

Dec 31st- Make your New Year Happier with storytelling in the Keepers of the Word Festival, First Night Providence @ Mathewson Street Church, Trinity Rep, and RICC, featuring Teju Ologboni, Fred Johnson (story-song master), Len Cabral, Abigail Jefferson, Melodie Thompson, and Valerie Tutson. Check First Night listings for specific times and locations.

March 21 -23, 2003- 22nd Annual Share the Fire, Tang Center, MIT in Cambridge, MA

Contact LANES (617)499-9662

Join us, call us, help up! 401-273-4013 or 401-383-6427 And send your $20 membership fee to:

(cut and send this portion) RIBS MEMBERSHIP -RIBS, PO BOX 25323, Providence, RI 02905

Check all that apply:

__ I would like to join RIBS. Enclosed is my $20 membership dues. (Your new member package will be forthcoming.)

__ I would like to volunteer for  ___FUNDA 2002, __ NABS 2003.  I would like to offer my services in the area of ___________________________/ I'm not sure. Please contact me with more information _____.

Your Name and Occupation___________________________________________________

Phone, Address & Email _____________________________________________________________

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