32nd Annual National Associations of Black Storytelling Festival and Conference

32nd Annual National Associations of Black Storytelling Festival and Conference
 “In the Tradition”

Chicago, Illinois

November 12-16, 2014

I am always looking for new stories, songs and activities for my school visits and storytimes especially when I have very large groups. The NABS conferences provide resources, mentoring and modeling for beginner and experienced storytellers. NABS is unique because the focus is on the preservation of African and African-American culture through storytelling. Storytellers from across the country attend and exchange ideas, share stories and recognize leadership and the excellence.

I was extremely proud to watch our own “Bunjo” Butler perform his stories and songs on the featured teller stage at this conference. In my almost 30 years of knowing him, I have only seen Bunjo once before on a national stage. This year was so enjoyable because I was able to witness how decades of study, practice and creativity have been combined in performances that had our audience of over 400 clapping, stamping, laughing, crying, singing and cheering a storyteller who made you proud of your experiences, your life and your heritage.

What will I take from watching Bunjo and use in my work at Pratt? Well I will examine my own experiences and personal stories and fuse them into creations which uplift my listeners. I will look for the small stories that connect with the universal memories of my audience. And I will look for ways through my songs, stories and chants to instill pride in my listeners so that they can know the gifts that are inherently theirs. 

Karen Burdnell
Library Associate I, HRR