The Old Story Teller
A Quick History on The Griot & Griottes
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The Griot, or Jeli , profession encompasses many roles and have been referred to as historians and storytellers. A traditional Griot can have various tasks from recounting history, composing music, teaching students, and acting as diplomats. They are also genealogist, spokespeople, teachers, warriors, musicians, interpreters, spokes people and more. 'Back in the Day' to become a Griot, you would have to be born into a Griot family where the traditions could be passed down from father to son.
The lesser know, the Griottes, are trained the same way as the men but tend to learn more from the women. It was, at the time, for Griottes to specialize only in praise singing. She would accompany the Griot, by singing, as he played the Kora because traditionally, Griottes did not play instruments. The differences between Griot and Griottes roles have blurred and a Griotte can become a Master and can preform all the skills and talents as a Griot can do. More research is being done on the Griottes. Where people once thought the Griottes had no "voice" in her region, we are finding that her songs have meaning, empowerment, praise and at times a role reversal, which leaves to wonder the true power of the Griottes. |
The Educational Enrichment Curriculum
The Old Story Teller has been working with the stories of the Civil Rights and Mississippi history, using story telling as a means of creating cultural understanding for a greater appreciation of the struggle of the Civil Rights and Mississippi history, reenactments, role-playing and reenacting stories from numerous historical characters and civil rights activist.
Using the seventeen years of presenting the history with a powerful anointing spiritual interpretation from the slave ships in Africa, and the era's of slavery, civil war, sharecropping, Jim Crow and Civil Rights.
People locally and from around the world says her experience puts her, The Old Story Teller, as one of the top authorities on Mississippi history and the Civil Rights struggle. Her experience working with and developing an oral curriculum as an enrichment outreach of the African American, Mississippi and Civil Rights history.Visitors, k-12, Collages, University, visitors and tourist from all over the world lives have been enlightened and enriched as a result of the vast oral presentations based on the Griotte traditions. The Old Story Teller, in collaboration with the Museum of History and Heritage has developed an oral curriculum, that enriches and educates all those who hear the stories.
The way these stories are presented appeals to the warmth, loving kindness and goodness of humanity and brings them together in a unified manner. We have achieved over the years is to bring people of all years races, nationalities and religions from all over the world together for a greater understanding and appreciation of the powerful spiritual energy that lives within humanity. These stories and presentations are designed to appeal as the truthful uncompromising stories has been presented in such a manner that the authenticity of the history is never compromised.
Using the seventeen years of presenting the history with a powerful anointing spiritual interpretation from the slave ships in Africa, and the era's of slavery, civil war, sharecropping, Jim Crow and Civil Rights.
People locally and from around the world says her experience puts her, The Old Story Teller, as one of the top authorities on Mississippi history and the Civil Rights struggle. Her experience working with and developing an oral curriculum as an enrichment outreach of the African American, Mississippi and Civil Rights history.Visitors, k-12, Collages, University, visitors and tourist from all over the world lives have been enlightened and enriched as a result of the vast oral presentations based on the Griotte traditions. The Old Story Teller, in collaboration with the Museum of History and Heritage has developed an oral curriculum, that enriches and educates all those who hear the stories.
The way these stories are presented appeals to the warmth, loving kindness and goodness of humanity and brings them together in a unified manner. We have achieved over the years is to bring people of all years races, nationalities and religions from all over the world together for a greater understanding and appreciation of the powerful spiritual energy that lives within humanity. These stories and presentations are designed to appeal as the truthful uncompromising stories has been presented in such a manner that the authenticity of the history is never compromised.
The Old Story Teller performing for the Foot Soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement
The Old Story Teller Performing for Students and Parents from Grenada, MS
The Old Story Teller Preforms at a Community Festival in Itta Bena MS
The Rev. George Lee Museums, The Fannie Lou Hamer Civil Rights Museum are NOT the only places that the Old Storyteller appears. On September 2014, the Old Storyteller, entertains at a Community Festival. She encouraged the local community and visitors of Itta Bena MS, in the story she told of the Mule and the Bottom of the Well, that the history of Itta Bena is one of the best examples of over coming adversity and they are on their way, like the Old Mule, "out of the bottom of that well." That when the sun goes down, the stars come out. The Old Storyteller also performs at venues such as; Churches, Library, Museums, Schools, Collages, universities, and birthdays parties etc. Feel free to check out the old story tellers website for more info. or contact me directly at 1-662-836-7761.
The Old Story Teller Performs at the 3rd Annual Sweat Equity Symposium MVSU
The Old Storyteller, as Lula- 'Mother of the Cotton Fields; the Overseer'- preforms at the 3rd Annual Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom Symposium Presented by Khafre Inc. and Mississippi Valley State University, in front of over 500 students from multiple High Schools, such as; Ruleville Central High School(Ruleville), Greenville Weston High School(Greenville), Greenwood High School(Greenwood) and John F. Kennedy High School(Mound Bayou) and High School Students from Jackson MS.
Before her performance, The Old Storyteller spoke with some of the students, which she encouraged, after High School to attend College to further their education. Among the students was Damien from John F. Kennedy High School(Mound Bayou) whom was excited to meet the Old Storyteller and was inspired by her words of encouragement to consider MVSU as a great choice for College.
'Lula' told the audience the story behind the personal struggles and triumphs during and after slavery and how the education of one slave son aided them to get justice from 'Ole Massa' because her son Joshua learned how to read, write, and do arithmetic from Massa's grandson, unknowing to him. In spite of the "Massa's' attempt to prevent her from getting her 20 Acres of cotton out of the field, like Ole Brer Rabbit, she used her whit's, to out-fox the Ole Massa.
Before her performance, The Old Storyteller spoke with some of the students, which she encouraged, after High School to attend College to further their education. Among the students was Damien from John F. Kennedy High School(Mound Bayou) whom was excited to meet the Old Storyteller and was inspired by her words of encouragement to consider MVSU as a great choice for College.
'Lula' told the audience the story behind the personal struggles and triumphs during and after slavery and how the education of one slave son aided them to get justice from 'Ole Massa' because her son Joshua learned how to read, write, and do arithmetic from Massa's grandson, unknowing to him. In spite of the "Massa's' attempt to prevent her from getting her 20 Acres of cotton out of the field, like Ole Brer Rabbit, she used her whit's, to out-fox the Ole Massa.
The Old Story Teller Preforms at the 3rd Annual Cotton Pickers Ball
The Old Story teller, as the 'Ole Sharecropper', preformed at the 3rd Annual Cotton Pickers' Ball and Ancestral Celebration and Libation Ceremony presented by Khafre Incorporated. The 'Ole Sharecropper' spoke to the audience about the struggles that Sharecroppers were faced with and how some of those struggles we are still faced with today and particularly about one of Mississippi's Delta famous Sharecroppers, Fannie Lou Hamer.
Ed Dwight, World renowned sculptor, was in attendance along with visitors from New York, California, Detroit and Local Deltaians.
Ed Dwight, World renowned sculptor, was in attendance along with visitors from New York, California, Detroit and Local Deltaians.
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The Old Story Teller performs at the B.B King Museum for the Annual Mary Shepherd,"Queen of Juke" Appreciation Dinner. She was paying a tribute to the history of Club Ebony and the Blues 2012.
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The Old Story Teller, located at 17150 Highway 49 at the Cultural Arts and Heritage Center, was being interviewed by Paul Ortiz the Director & Associate Professor of Samuel Proctor Oral History Program of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of the University of Florida. She was telling the story of the history of the Blues, Gospel, Fannie Lou Hamer and the Civil Rights Movement.
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The Old Story Teller performed at the Coral Room at the Vicksburg 2012. She described life during the Civil War and the care that the slaves and the plantation owner gave to soldiers from both sides and how wounded soldiers were encouraged to hide from combat and walk in the water to avoid being tracked by military units looking for them.
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The Old Story Teller performed at New Hope Baptist Church in Indianola MS. at the Back History program on February 9 2014.
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The Old Story Teller performed at the historical Hill Lodge/Temple in Belzoni MS at the Black history Program "At the cross Roads of Freedom and equality" on February 16, 2014.
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The Old Story Teller performed at the Sunflower Humphreys Senior Companion Program in Belzoni MS at the Black History Program of "Connecting the Past to the Present" on February 21, 2014.
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The Old Story Teller performs at The Lockard Elementary School in Indianola MS at the Black History Program on February 21, 2014.
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The Old Story Teller performs at White Star Church in Belzoni MS for their Black History Program which was the church of Rev. George W. Lee (the first to die for voters rights.
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The Old Story Teller performs at the G.V Sonny Montgomery Medical Center in Jackson MS for their Black History Program " Civil Rights in America" on February 24,, 2014.
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The Old Story Teller Stories & Folk Tales Now in Print!
The Old Story Teller Stories & Folk Tales Now in Print!
Own your own copy of five of the famous stories told by the Old Story Teller published in "Mississippi Folk and the Tales They Tell" Books are $20.00 and when purchased through the Old... Story Teller Only, $5.00 of each book will go towards the funding of the Mississippi Civil Rights Memorial Project and your name will be mentioned at your request as a sponsor of the Project. By buying a book, this is one way that you can honor the memory of Family/Friends and people you know that were apart of the MS Civil Rights Movement.
!!!Tell your friends, family, church members, co-workers etc... that this project could use their support!!!!
Helen Sims: 1-662-836-7761
Email: helensims@live.com
Address: 17150 Hwy 49 Belzoni MS 39038
website: www.therevgeorgeleemuseumsofafricanamericanhistoryandheritage.com
*Listing is under civil rights memorial project*
*Tax deductible donations can be made to the Rev. George Lee Museum*
