The Old Storyteller
The Old Story Teller is a fourth generation story teller who tells stories that have been passed down from her great grandmother who told stories that their father/mother told them, about slavery, the Civil War, sharecropping, old folk tales, ghost stories and the famous, Fox, Rabbit and Turtle Stories in addition to stories that have been shared with the Old Storyteller from people from many walks of life. Her mission is to preserve and promote the authenticity of American, Mississippi and African American History. She performs in venues that include but are not limited to; Museums, Libraries, Schools, Collages, Festivals, Churches, and Private Events.
The Old Storyteller is also a tour guide for the Mississippi Heritage Consortium and leads tours through the Civil Rights Trail throughout Belzoni and Humphreys County, and other cities and counties throughout the state. Among the tours lead by the Old Storyteller are tours to; the Blues Trail Markers, Civil Rights Freedom Trail, Historical Landmarks many of which are centered around the 1950's - 1980's Civil Rights struggle.
The Old Storyteller is also a tour guide for the Mississippi Heritage Consortium and leads tours through the Civil Rights Trail throughout Belzoni and Humphreys County, and other cities and counties throughout the state. Among the tours lead by the Old Storyteller are tours to; the Blues Trail Markers, Civil Rights Freedom Trail, Historical Landmarks many of which are centered around the 1950's - 1980's Civil Rights struggle.
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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 Educational Enrichment Curriculum
The Old Storyteller 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 griot traditions. The Old Storyteller, 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 griot traditions. The Old Storyteller, 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.
A Quick History on The Griots
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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 Old Story Teller performing for the Foot Soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement
The Old Storyteller Performing for Students and Parents from Grenada, MS
The Old Storyteller Preforms at a Community Festival in Itta Bena MS
The Old Storyteller Performs at The Sweat Equity Symposium
The Old Storyteller Performs at the 3rd Annual Cotton Pickers Ball
The Old Storyteller 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*See More
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*