B safe B Well B Love
"My greatest desire as a storyteller & poet, is to highlight the fruits of the spirit in all humankind: Love ~ Joy ~ Peace ~ Patience ~ Kindness ~ Goodness ~ Faith ~ Mildness ~ Self-control and I may add: Self Esteem...sprinkled with reflections on life lessons & laughter.
I also enjoy re-telling & creating stories to connect local communities with world cultures for peace empathy & understanding, especially for our children." Oni Lasana
Ruth Ann's Restaurant soul food restaurant in Harlem, New York presented a book signing for the iconic actress, civil rights activist and author, RUBY DEE.
"In This Life Together" was written with her husband, cultural icon and actor OSSIE DAVIS.
RUBY DEE is also author of award winning children's book, "Two Ways To Count To Ten, a Liberian Folktale" and "My One Good Nerve."
Opening for RUBY DEE, Oni presented "Oni Lasana Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother."
Ms. Dee enjoyed hearing Oni interpret Dunbar's poetry so much, she exclaimed in her opening, "I want to be like Oni when I grow up!"
Accepting the life membership award for her mentor, Diane Williams, The Storyteller of Jackson, Mississippi, from founders, Mother Mary Carter Smith & Mama Linda Goss. Richmond, Virginia.
(Oni is also a life member of NABS)
1st place in the Story Slam at the 24th Annual New Jersey Storytelling Festival at Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey 2016
"Oni, you rose the bar!"
Denise Mc Cormack, President, Patchwork, A Storytelling Guild
Telling "Little Apple Tree" @ New Jersey Storytelling Festival
Grounds For Sculpture, NJ 2016
"Cause your a shinning star, no matter who you are" Maurice White, Earth, Wind & Fire
Philadelphia's Afrocentric Storytelling Group, Pennsylvania
L-R: Caroliese Frink-Reed, Oni Lasana (President 2006), Charlotte Blake Alston, Jawara Bishop, Thelma Robinson, Abiodun, Pauline Cohen, Atiya Ola, Doni Johnson & Ron Carter
In South Africa & Zimbabwe Ubuntu means a person is a person through other people.
Ubuntu is the essence of being human.
Oni's original Ubuntu song, for children to circle up & dance along!
Zoomin' for youth of all ages!
Listen with the youngin's on the audio version, over & over & over again on African Folktales podcast!
Dr. King's stories, sermon's and speeches changed a nation.
Listen to Oni's spoken word tribute to MLK Jr.
Oni's "Drama Mama's" have produced plays and reader's theater featuring African American literature for over 30 years.
West Chester Community Performers are based in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
For upcoming performances "like" us on Facebook!
Nana Oni shared tales from Liberia, Nigeria, & Gambia.
Also, sharing information on her display of cultural artifacts from Zimbabwe & Ghana.
Enjoyed hearing tales of Aesop, The African storyteller and about Anansi, who came from Africa to the Caribbean to America, on his sharing wisdom with the world.
Enriching the lives of young scholar's everywhere!
Stories from Africa, Caribbean, Europe and America
Oni will customize a storytelling program with a theme of your choice!
Photo: Oni inside the art installation of Vincent Van Gogh's bedroom at the Grounds For Sculpture, Trenton, New Jersey.
How Oni was able to pose like a diva in the frame, is another story!
"Thank you so much for coming to our group--you are truly a find and I am glad Philly's CSP (Community Support Program) found you. You are a talented, warm and generous spirit and you were so understanding of our community. Bless you."
Michelle Davis, MBA
Public Health Program Analyst Supervisor
City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A theatrical storytelling workshop & performance on how to engage and enrich audiences with characters and story development.
GARDEN STATE STORYTELLERS LEAGUE'S TELLABRATION 2016
Presented
ONI LASANA
in
MUSES OF A STORYTELLER
A theatrical storytelling delight!
Oni presented excerpts on a historical timeline of storytelling as NANA AESOP, 'LIAS' MOTHER, GRANNY GOOSE, to "story activist" MAMA EARTH.
With a special introduction of the most beautiful doll in the world "Nyota Kungaa" from the "Girl Friends" program.
This interactive workshop demonstrated Oni's secrets on the development of characters, story enhancements, and audience participation with the use of poetry, story, songs and props.
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Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild
West Chester Community Performers
National Association of Black Storytellers
Association of African American Life and History
(Founded by Carter G. Woodson)
Storytelling ~ Theater ~ Language Arts ~ Music ~ History - Wellness
Philadelphia & Coatesville, Pennsylvania
© 2021 Oni Lasana Productions
All Rights Reserved
"iF UNIQUE IS WHAT YOU SEEK"
~ THANKS FOR VISITING ~