| About the Artist |
| A multifaceted storyteller who has served as Cultural Ambassador and Host for visiting artists and guests attending Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation's children's programs ( "Magic City Mondays"), J'miah presents programs in the traditional and contemporary styles reflective of "the story-dance-musical drama" found in Africa and its Diaspora. He also enjoys the telling of tales and stories with folklore from around the world. In an upbeat manner and using a variety of musical hand-held instruments, recreational folktale-songs (mmoguo), colorful textiles and the many languages and sounds found in distant lands, he creates a participatory experience through the impromptu storytelling-ensembles he easily sets up by including the audience as stories are spun, sung, danced to and drummed. With storytelling for a variety of occassions and using the theatrical devices of Tableaux, there is always a touch of the old and new when J'miah relates to everyday life with fantasy and fun. Under the auspicies of the Philadelphia World Affairs Council; the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts; Massachusettes Cultural Council; California Arts Council; Young Audiences of Atlanta; South Carolina Arts Commission and other local and state public service agencies, J'miah has presented programs and workshops across the U.S. at schools, museums, youth organizations, public libraries, universities and corporations with his brand of storytelling and arts-in-education residencies in storytelling and folktale drama. During the nineties, he began adapting and tailoring his programs to address some of the social concerns of truancy, drugs, teen-pregnancy, diversity and inclusion, tolerance and Deaf awareness. J'miah has been recognized and honored for his work in the arts and folklore with children and youth in rural and urban communities by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Miami-Dade City Council (FL). Also a Teaching Artist, J'miah's programs make "Cross-Curricular Connections" to state, district and nationally mandated curriculum Content Standards (Quality Core Curriculum). He is presently on roster as an Teaching Artist Arts Partner with the Character Through the Arts Initiative (CTTA) funded by the U.S.Department of Education and coordinated through the partnerships of Pioneer Regional Educational Services Agency (RESA), The Grammy Foundation's Leonard Bernstein Center for Learning and Kennesaw State University's RTM Center for Leadership, Ethics and Character in Atlanta, Georgia. Most recently, the 2005 Savannah Music Festival invited him to host their Educational Concert Series and to present ANANSI TALES. Noted for his engaging lively programs, J'miah continues to maintain an activie list of community volunteer committments for children and family causes while serving a variety of state arts councils and agencies as he continues his mission of bringing joy, positive self-esteem and expression, friendship and cultural awareness through the arts to children of all ages. |
| The Friends of Folklore of Coastal Georgia and the Carolinas P.O. Box 13946 Savannah, GA 31416 (912) 927-1871 Email: speakersgroup@bellsouth.net |
| PLEASE ADDRESS ALL INQUIRIES TO: |
| J'miah Nabawi's career as a professional storyteller began in 1986, after meeting author and Official Storyteller of Philadelphia (PA), Linda Goss. During one of her storytelling performances and workshops for children, he introduced himself and expressed interest in her work. A week later, J'miah received a telephone call from Mrs.Goss stating she had work for him as a storyteller. "What? I'm not a storyteller yet!" he stammered. Her response was filled with encouragement and reassurance that prompted him to gladly accept. To J'miah's surprise, his first audience of senior adults and children were from the same South Philadelphia neighborhood he had grown up in. They delighted in the stories of his adventures of having successfully lived in a Spanish-speaking country, Mexico. From that day on, with high-energy and acclaim, J'miah has been captivating audiences as a professional storyteller. |
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| Photo courtsey of Tamara Chastain keleigh productions, inc. |