THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK STORYTELLERS, INC. 42 nd Annual National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference “In the Tradition…”
Tracing and Lighting Freedom’s Footsteps!
Co-Hosts: Tradition Keepers - Black Storytellers of Western New York
The National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. (NABS) will present the “In the Tradition…” 42nd Annual National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference in Buffalo, New York! This year, NABS will be conducting their celebration October 23-27, 2024 at the Embassy Suites Hotel Buffalo and throughout the community.
The first "In the Tradition..." Festival of Black Storytelling was held at Morgan State University in Baltimore in 1983. Since then, they’ve traveled throughout the country and approaching 42 years of celebrations. In honor of our Ancestors and in encouraging preservation of our traditions, this year’s theme is “Tracing & Lighting Freedom’s Footsteps!”
In 1982, nationally renowned storytellers, Baltimore’s first officially appointed Griot – the late, great Mary Carter Smith of Baltimore, Maryland, and esteemed Linda Goss of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (now residing in Baltimore) – founded “In the Tradition…” National Black Storytelling Festival. These visionaries then created the National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc., to create more opportunities for African American storytellers to preserve the African oral tradition and folklore of African people.
Master Storytellers, as well as, beginners, storytellers with instruments and storytellers who dance, storytellers of all styles will entertain, inspire, educate and enliven the myths, recite the poems and recount the history of a people. Featured Tellers this year are: Mitch “Gran’Daddy Junebug” Capel (NC), Janice Curtis Greene (MD), D’Lores Simmons (NY), Oba William King (TX), Kemi Egunyemi (VA), Sue Roseberry (TX), Bobby Norfolk (MO), Dr. Linda Humes (NY) and a special presentation by Beverly Fields Burnette (NC). Our Saturday Youth Concert will highlight some of Buffalo’s finest youth performers along with youth from throughout the country. Also, there will be three Village Tellin’ sessions where stories will be shared by our fourteen affiliates. Story Swaps where attendees share their talents and our always popular Jackie Torrence Tall Tales Contest! Added to all of this are workshops for the novice and professional tellers lead by Dr. Linda Humes, Dylan Pritchett, Paul D. Best, Willa Brigham, Sue Rosenberry, Djeli Celestia, and story Feedback Sessions conducted by Mitch Capel, Janice Curtis Greene, Oba William King and D’Lores Simmons.
The National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. is proud to present this one-of-a-kind event for the community, country and the world! This is what to expect:
ADOPT-A-TELLER: Storytellers available to perform a 45-minute live performance at local schools, libraries and other venues throughout the Buffalo area. There is an application fee but the performance is FREE! Limited availability. Contact Queen/Bunjo at aatp@nabsinc.org for additional information and availability.
OPENING GALA, “NABS HONORS… CONCERT” & MARY CARTER SMITH LOVE CIRCLE: Traditional opening including our “Affiliate March” followed by a concert of stories honoring our organization’s Ancestors and the stories they told!
VILLAGE TELLIN’: Three sessions celebrating our fourteen Affiliates sharing their unique regional and cultural flare as they weave their stories. A crowd pleaser!!
ADULT JACKIE TORRENCE TALL TALES CONTEST: Festival Favorite!!!!! Members and non-members compete…sharing their fantastic fabrications and lies…uh…tall tales!!.
ZORA NEALE HURSTON AWARD: Our highest award recognizing excellence in the BlackStorytelling community! Also, our Cow Tail Switch Ceremony swearing in our incoming President.
NABS CHURCH, SPRITUAL CONCERT & MAMA LINDA GOSS CLOSING UNITY CIRCLE: Giving thanks through words and story and our traditional closing ceremony.
Since the first Festival and Conference in Baltimore, NABS has traveled around the nation; most recently, New Orleans, LA ('04), Tampa, FL ('05), San Diego, CA ('06), Atlanta, GA (’07), Cincinnati, OH (’08), Little Rock, AR (’09), Minneapolis, MN (’10), Atlanta, GA (’11), Baltimore, MD (’12), Hampton, VA (’13), Chicago, IL (‘14), Washington, D.C. (’15), Philadelphia (’16), Wichita, KS (’17), Cary, NC, (’18), Montgomery, AL (’19), two virtual festivals (‘20/’21), 40th anniversary in Baltimore, Maryland (’22), Sal Lake City, Utah (’23) and now…Buffalo, New York!!! COME JOIN US!!
FOR PROGRAM SCHEDULE & REGISTRATION INFORMATION VISIT