Rhode Island Black Storytellers

This year’s festival returns to its roots as a Catalyst for Community, as part of a Rhode Island Foundation initiative 25 years ago to support Black artists, arts and community. RIBS and FUNDA engage 10 community partners with shared mission to share stories and culture from the African diaspora. A Community Grant from the Rhode Island Foundation and Ocean Stage Charities Trust makes it possible for these partners:  includingHaus of Glitter, Stages of Freedom, Mixed Magic Theatre, W.A.R., Higher Ground, International, the Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading, Outspoken, Rhode Island Latino Arts, Sidy Maiga Music, Lydia Perez Yoruba 2

Funda is a Zulu word, spoken by the people in South Africa. Long before there were books, the elders and griots and jaliyas—the storytellers-  were the keepers of the culture. They passed on stories and songs so the community would learn its history, values, and traditions, in the oral tradition. That’s what we offer here:  a place to learn.  Not only that, it looks like FUN!