African Folktales Music and Learning Fun for the kids and everyone

9 MP3 Songs
KIDS/FAMILY: Children's Storytelling, KIDS/FAMILY: General Children's Music



Details:
Welcome to Moonlight Stories, a child-centered recreation of the African storytelling tradition. Though child-centered Moonlight Stories has been designed to appeal to the "child's heart" in everyone. Each important event or activity in the lives of African people includes music specifically designed for the occasion. In addition to helping us communicate, music in general brings us closer together, makes us feel better, and heals us as well. While complementing our spoken word, stories and learning activities, we can only hope that our music, for you and our children does that for which it is intended.

Often, occurring at the end of the day with the backdrop of the soft glow of the moonlit sky, the youth of Africa have gathered anxiously at the feet of their elders for time immemorial, listening to stories that help to ensure that the cultural ethos or way that the people of a society look at and relate to the world remains in tact. As a result, the sense of right from wrong or truth from falsehood, that helps to keep society strong and vibrant and thus better able to stand the test of time, is maintained.

It is hoped that this recording contributes similarly to the maintenance of the universal codes of conduct that have been shared, not only by Africans but by all of the peoples of the world. In our minds rightfully so as the role of the storyteller across culture and across time has been to enlighten as well as entertain, and thus to make the world a better place to live.



Orisirisi African Folkore is a performing arts company formed with the express purpose of sharing both the beauty and poignancy of African life and culture.

Orisirisi has received critical acclaim far and wide for their unique, African-rooted, educational and entertaining presentations, which Don Harrell and Nigerian born wife Tutu, co-produce, direct, as well as perform.

Ilenbilu Adetutu (Tutu) Harrell, a graduate of Crown College London, is an extraordinarily gifted storyteller, dancer, and singer who's cultural memory provides a seemingly unending wellspring from which Orisirisi draws it's much of it's performance material. Tutu dedication to the sharing of the rich cultural heritage of her ancestry, has become legendary.

Don Harrell, both Master Storyteller and African Drummer, is a versatile veteran of stage and screen who holds a B.A degree in American Studies from Union College, Schenectady, New York, a M.A. degree in African Studies from, the University of California, Los Angeles, and has furthered his studies at the University of Ghana, Legon Ghana.


Don and Tutu are members of Alternate ROOTS (The Regional Organization of Theaters South) and The Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and are also listed as approved artist on the South Carolina Arts Commission roster for its Arts in Basic Curriculum, Arts in Education, and Gifted and Talented Programs, and for VSA (Very Special Arts) Florida.
Orisirisi, since 1999 has been an award-winning act at Walt Disney Worlds Epcot Center, where they have continuously receive rave reviews from guest from all over the world.