Oni Lasana, Thee Storyteller

12/12/2018 

Dear Storytellers around the world, feedback is appreciated...

I have a story to tell you. I hope you will have the time it takes to read it...it may be a long one';-)....but I am compelled to share it with you, who I feel will be very objective, while offering the insight and wisdom I crave. This incident is causing me great sadness. For the first time in my storytelling career, I've stumbled into a depressing misunderstanding. 

All is never lost when your heart is in the right place. I have also received much loving advice and encouragement from my best storytelling friend, Diane Williams of Mississippi.  However, as you know writing is a venting healing force, it can't be unwritten until the scar is healed. The drama is far reaching and cross continents. A wider issue I want to bring to you and Sharon Holley's attention, a sister friend who has published my musings in the NABS newsletter. Sharon and I have a connection. She hears my voice in the words I write. Thank you Sharon. 

My purpose in telling this true incident is to warn and inform other creative professional storytellers. Now that I have this blog on my website, its a personal journey.

It is a sad story, but cracks of humor may shine through. Wanna read it...here it go.... 

In Jan/Feb 2018, I conducted 2 storytelling workshop in Tobago for librarian's hoping to magically turn them into storytellers, overnight! A second workshop was for elementary school teachers who are entering their students in a annual youth storytelling competition here at the library.

 I facilitated both workshops, pro bono (no $$). The library is government run and I am not registered as a government contractor in Tobago, yet. Sharing information, I get to keep my skills sharp and my mind sharper for the love of storytelling. Love of our culture here, their and everywhere!

The name of my workshop is "Storytelling, Anyone?" and the byline was. "Once Upon A Time...Is Now!"  It's a trade standard opening line. I've said it since I was 4 years old, "Once Uponsa Time"...so I felt it would be a nice little twist to add...."Is Now." As oppose to the telling of ancient folktales. My workshops gives a brief history of storytelling. Followed by interactive coaching on present day stories. Creative incense in hand, I used....is today!

The PR person at the library wanted to design the workshop handout and asked if we could TITLE the workshop  "Once Upon A Time....Is Now"  She's has a degree in PR,what do I know, so I said ok. NO PROBLEM!

or so I thought. 

Both workshops, were well attended. WARNING! I am not a talking head scholar, an academic know it all or Phd totin' pontificate. I am a ARTress! I dropped out of a two year college when I realized the sociology degree I was paying for, I was living. Talley's Corner was my real life growing and getting out of Philly. The communications degree I was paying for, I was living in real life, working at a non-profit radio station. So, I tore up my student loan and booted myself out of closed doors, books and walls... OUT on my own God given talents. Good thing I didn't want to be a doctor or lawyer!

I'm proudly self taught, my knowledge is from my own research, book reading, asking questions, staying humble, hands on, lets get it done, study and active experience in all aspects of communications. Spirit drive. God given. Ya feelin' me? Since my youth, I have been able to retain information, and emote dramatically rhymes, songs, poems and stories. I was NEVER a shy child. 

Back to the drama of the workshops. 

On the big screen we connected to You Tube, I introduced and opened with Charlotte Blake Alston's TED talk on the importance of storytelling. She is a friend and one of my fondest motivators, and most authentic African in America female griots.  Next, we watched  Karen "Queen Nur" Abdul Malik's TED talk with her dynamic version of Antonio Sacre's The Barking Mouse, her version; "Why Its Good To Know A Second Language,"  EXCELLENT! Both, Storytellers Extraordinaire! So proud to be in the same collective with these talented gifted sisters in story. www.KOTCinc.org

As for me, I told a story, "War & Peace" having heard Charlotte presented it in her opening for Bobby "Don't Worry Be Happy" McFarrin at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia for Martin Luther King Day. GOOSEBUMPS! 

I received a polite applause. One teacher knew the story. At least, I wasn't only showing off my friends. They could see I had some storytelling chops...like me or not...for me, the story is always the star. My main purpose was to encouraged THEM to become storytellers for the libraries after school story time. And possibly organize a storytelling collective in Tobago. I did not present my You Tube videos, my workshops are all about the participant. I check my ego at the door, and gave away many tips, secrets and resources in the handout. 

Moving on, I randomly handed out several very short stories on 8X11. All have a lesson; Caring, Self Determination, Honesty, etc.. Participants read the story, for a few minutes and can retell in their own words. (helps with their own memory) or dramatically read from the paper. No stress. Accepting feedback from everyone. With permission, I video taped and posted the participants on a newly created Facebook page, Tobago Storytellers. 

Anansi saga continues...

My ANANSI song is a revision of "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Baba Jamal Koram,The Storyman, had taught African-American Storytellers to AFRO-CANIZE traditional folktales, song and stories. So our children can be Cinderella, Snow White, mmmm...whatever...I finally gave the infamous, Itsy Bitsy Spider, a name, KWEKU ANANSI!

On a gig at a homeless shelter for woman and children,in 2017, I debut my revision of Itsy Bitsy/Anansi Song. Seeing young woman in tears and children dancing around singing to their mothers was heart wrenching, priceless. The chorus, the mantra, taken from my own struggles and felt by everyone in the room, closed the experience with hugs. "Anansi, Anansi, fell down that day. Anansi, Anansi, what did he say? I'm a stop crying and I'm a keep on trying"  What a hook, straight up divine inspiration *!* 

KOTC's Family Day was a success, the library folks LOVED the program, wonderful storytellers, kids from the audience and our Watoto of Joy showed out! You can see at the Keepers Of The Culture Storytelling You Tube channel. What great fun for one and all! Here's the video;

When Family Day excitement settled. I was eager to share my Anansi Song video with a storyteller who I'll refer to as "Mama Anansy". She is Not the fabulous iconic MISS LOU, may she RIP.   A Jamaican scholar, cultural activist and organizer of the Ananse Festival in Jamaica. Mama Anansy's festival came to my attention through KOTC storyteller Denise Valentine's participation in the festival in 2014, or 13'. Seeing Denise post on it, I reached out to Mama Anansy in a e-mail, letting her know I would love to perform in her festival. (I didn't even know a Anansi story...everyone has a little Anansi in dey blood;-) Even I, in 2020, discovered via 23 & me, my DNA showed 59.6% of my heritage is rooted in west Africa, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. 

Mama Anansy's response was very positive. Though I never heard from her again. Years went by, I'm busy doing my thing and I forgot about our correspondence. I moved on. I lived in Jamaica for 6 months and it wasn't as a tourist. I was researching everything I could about Anansi...his origin, his nonsense, his lessons told around the world. Believe it or not, many children in American have never heard of Kwaku Anansi.

Four years later, with a few 'Nansi stories" in my heart, and the video of me performing the Anansi song for Family Day. I decided to add a Nana Ananse Facebook page. 

Everything Anansi & Ananse (i or e)...Ananse is still up to his tricks and he popped up! I notice's "Mama Anansi"  Cool. She accepted my friend request. IRIE! Her page is public, when I visit her page I see she posted a flyer, where she has also has a storytelling workshop called 

"Once Upon A Time...Is Now!" 

I was shocked! I had the audacity to get an EGO attack. My first reaction was SHE had heard about my workshops in Tobago. How presumptuous of me! 

Why?  The storytelling community is small, we are not talking film or books...just standing up and telling a story. It's not a great big money maker. So I thought, mmmm I did reach out  on the phone to the legendary Trinidad & Tobago storyteller and author and cultural icon, Paul Keens Douglas. He was an original honorary member of NABS (National Association of Black Storytellers) www.NABSinc.org

Keens-Douglas was flattered to give me a quote for my workshop handout. "We must preserve the magic of the voice in the art of storytelling"..Paul Keens Douglas. When I hinted to Mr. Douglas how, I could take the ferry or fly over to Trinidad (Tobago being the sister island) for a promotional presentation of a Paul L. Dunbar poem. As I saw on his website he was preparing for his 30th Anniversary Talk Tent production, at Queen's Hall in Trinidad.

Brother Paul took out a long standing grudge on me. Mr. Keens-Douglas was still bitter about not being invited to perform in the USA by other storytellers.  He called the names of two American storyteller's whom he had brought to Trinidad in the past. He was clearly disappointed they had never reciprocated by inviting him to perform in the US. I started thinking of what gigs I could book for him in the Philadelphia area. He kept talking. My cause and project to appease him, was dying. I told him that was before my time, my name is Bess and I ain't in that mess. 

Now seeing Mama Ananse workshop title, I sorta thought maybe, just maybe, word reached Mama Ananse through Paul Keens-Douglas. I know I'm real crazy. Or paranoid. Or crazy! Imagination overtime. 

Back on my Facebook page wanting to connect with my new best Anansi friend, I took a photo of my Tobago workshop, I shared it to Mama Ananse's timeline. 

Would I accuse her of stealing MY workshop title? Once upon A Time...is Now!"...How To Tell Great Stories, facilitated by Oni Lasana

NO. 

Once upon a time is not a original saying, the byline..."is now" randomly popped in my head. The Tobago library PR person liked it so much, she made it the title. 

My gut reaction on seeing Mama Ananse's workshop, was to keep it positive. Sending the photo of my workshop with the caption; "Great minds think alike!" I also posted the video of my Itsy-Bitsy Spider/Ananse song and gave her permission to use it giving me credit for the catch phrase. "I'm a stop crying and keep on trying"  

There. I'm sure we'll be lovely storytelling friends! 

ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE! A e-mail announced : "BOLD FACE THIEF" - NOT COOL!... she goes on chastising me for stealing from her, the ..."is now" two little words. Where? From her signature e-mail of 4 years ago and she sent me the e-mail!!! I was shocked! I never remembered her e-mail, let alone her signature of "Once Upon A Time Is Now" I never found her e-mail in my search! She was long gone from my e-mails, or so I thought.

I immediately sent her a response. Told her I agree, it is NOT COOL. I apologized, it's a honest mistake.  It was not a CONSCIOUS ACT... I even joked, ok, I may be crazy but I'm not stupid! Why would I sent you the proof of my "thievery?"  I told her I would take the title of the workshop off my website and would never use it again! And I did. I prefer my own title, Storytelling Anyone? cause it doesn't seem many people can really tell a good story. ZZZZZZZZZ

For real, for real, I never thought of her title, from the one time I read her e-mail 4 years ago? I was very kind, humble, friendly and apologetic in my response. I told her if she franchised it under that title, then I would buy into it....then I go to her Facebook page to remove my post...and that is where she unleashed all her wrath and fury on me!

Calling me a thief!...asking if anyone know this "Oni Lasana" and she giving me 48 hours before she going to "sue" me for taking her "intellectual property" and then all her crazy friends chime in! So I start to feel some concern about this thing. My son is an attorney, I may be able to fight this at no cost...I wish. 

In distress, I immediately call on my storytelling confidant and mentor, Diane Williams of Mississippi and I tell on Mama Ananse!...Diane, a book author of Mississippi Folktales and on the life of BB King! Ah..a master googler and researcher of the highest power! Hits me back with all the books, Disneyland projects, logo's and even a documentary from 1977 on Princess Grace Kelly called "Once Upon A Time Is Now"....

Diane proclaims! "It's "Mama Ananse" who should apologize to you Oni!" 

That's my sister!

I check my e-mail and I see where Mama Ananse copied me in e-mail's to a prominent storyteller in Trinidad and another in England...both woman of color. She telling them I'm a thief and carrying on real bad on my name and just saying terrible things about me. Insulting me...comparing me to  CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS! Ta rotted! 

Now that made me really laugh. I was beginning to like this lady. But I already block her on Facebook. So I sent a e-mail, with all the photos of the graphics of the books, projects and link to the Grace Kelly movie of the same name. Sending it to the storyteller in England and in Trinidad....the one in England say she don't want to be involved and take her off the list, the one in Trinidad write me and tell me shame on me, I's a teef! I'll ave to answer one day to ANANSE!  oh my! I'm scared now!

Silly me, I responded that we know Ananse is not a real entity, or a diety or any religion I know of. However, my God and our creator is real and with a clear conscious I will stand in judgement by HIM, and I WILL NEVER be judged by ANANSE, the spider! REALLY?

Meanwhile, on Facebook, Mama Anansy is still carrying on her tirade against me, giving me some word licks! Telling all her "friends" how low and dirty and boldface I am....STILL. Then she sends out my personal apology, I posted just for her to accept, to all her PUBLIC contacts. 

Deep. I e-mail her and let her know I will not be quiet over her slandering me Facebook.  After I send her all the photos on the slogan Diane sent me, she comes to the conclusion that I MUST be guilty!  She will now, report ME for online harassment!  I tell her to grow up and if she does report me.....anyone in their right mind who sees the e-mails, she is writing to me, will clearly see she is the defaming slanderer of my reputation. Calling me out to make herself look important! Some nerve. She got blocked. Straight to spam. 

My business background is in publishing and copyright. If you use another persons slogan or story without credit ON PURPOSE...of course its not cool. I told her if she did trademark the "saying" then she should use TM at the corner of the slogan. 

I doubt she heard me. Am I legally at fault? Morally? Culturally? 

African's in the diaspora are all connected. Especially in our stories. 

I have tried to make amends. By sending her the video with a kind remark on usage but it only stirred her up, puffed up with pride, angry, belligerent. So prophetic of her. These are the last days.

As for me, I love sharing ideas with fellow storytellers. I mentor 2 beautiful sisters in Philadelphia, sending them stories, songs and resources to hone their skills. As storytellers, we all re-tell a story or a song in our own special way. I refuse to be a crab in that barrel!

My feelings as a storyteller is to always remain open. No one tells the same story alike. We all have our own special personalities. We must allow our creativity to touch one anothers. Some little corny saying shouldn't divide us. We can't take it with us.

 Even when we all fall asleep in death, we will be remember by our fellow storytellers, they will lovingly mention our names, our workshops, our contributions to oral history, folk art and our storytelling organizations productions. 

IF, "Great minds do think alike" Let's not keep it to ourselves. Stories are for sharing.

Creativity is endless. Who needs to steal or plagiarize anyone for anything. I am often inspired by the gifts of dynamic storytellers in The National Association of Black Storytellers, Keepers Of The Culture, Patchwork and Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild.  I know for a fact that a few of my idea's have sparked serious inspiration to write a poem, take up a instrument or retell as story, in a few of my personal and long distant storytelling friends, around the world. 

It's now 2020, and Aunty Oni is telling Anansi stories with passion and love here in Tobago.

As a storyteller in residence for Miss Marcie, who can always call on me to engage her adorable school children and for Miss Heather at the Tobago Library Services. I will continue telling from my rocking chair.

Online, I am finding real life stories.  I have hidden so very long. But intend to leave for my grandchildren and as memoir's to be found in my memorial booklet. So I clean up life stories for this diary/blog. I came across this venting about Mama Anansy and I sincerely hope she is fine and well irie on her beloved island. 

Who knows, if spirit moves and my bank is smiling, I may one day go to Jamaica for the festival in love and peace.  On the Anansi trickster tip:-) my imagination has me wondering if I would see or hear Mama Anansy or any other well researched storyteller, or teacher, singing my revised Itsy-Bitsy Spider/Anansi Song with a room full of Anansy's children in Jamaica. I do hope they are bringing it the joy I deliver here in Tobago.  

In closing. 

Anansi didn't wash away when he crawled up the water spout, and someone cussed him out! He fell down, hit the ground, he got up and bravely sang,

"I'm a stop crying, and I'm a keep on trying!"

What say you?

The beginning...