B safe B Well B Love

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  • WELCOME
  • AUNTI ONI *!*
    • THE STORYTELLER
    • ANANSI TIME
    • GRANNY GOOSE
    • HEY AESOP!
    • MLK Jr. PROGRAM
    • HARRIET TUBMAN
    • MAMA EARTH
    • ABOUT DUNBAR
    • 'LIAS' MOTHER
    • ALWAYS FREE
  • LOL 4 REAL!
  • WORKSHOPS
    • POET
    • SISTER WINGS CD
    • POETRY & VIDEOS & STORIES
  • APPEARANCES & PODCASTS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • APPLAUSE
  • ABOUT ONI *!*
    • WELCOME
    • AUNTI ONI *!*
    • STORYZOOMin'
      • THE STORYTELLER
      • ANANSI TIME
      • GRANNY GOOSE
      • HEY AESOP!
      • MLK Jr. PROGRAM
      • HARRIET TUBMAN
      • MAMA EARTH
    • PAUL L. DUNBAR
      • ABOUT DUNBAR
      • 'LIAS' MOTHER
      • ALWAYS FREE
    • LOL 4 REAL!
    • WORKSHOPS
    • PERFORMANCE POET
      • POET
      • SISTER WINGS CD
      • POETRY & VIDEOS & STORIES
    • APPEARANCES & PODCASTS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • APPLAUSE
    • ABOUT ONI *!*

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  • WELCOME
  • AUNTI ONI *!*
  • LOL 4 REAL!
  • WORKSHOPS
  • APPEARANCES & PODCASTS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • APPLAUSE
  • ABOUT ONI *!*

Oni Lasana, Thee Storyteller

Queens of Storytelling Quilt by Mary Ann Grayson of Ohio USA

Queens of Storytelling Quilt by Mary Ann Grayson of Ohio

"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


UBUNTU! I am because we are

In South Africa & Zimbabwe Ubuntu means a person is a person through other people.

Ubuntu is the essence of being human.

ubuntu! oni's welcome song

Oni's original Ubuntu song, for children to circle up & dance along!

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New Jersey Storytelling Slam 2016

What's inside of you, will always shine thru!

New Jersey Storytelling Slam 2016

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

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Keepers Of The Culture, Inc.

What's inside of you, will always shine thru!

New Jersey Storytelling Slam 2016

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


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What's inside of you, will always shine thru!

What's inside of you, will always shine thru!

What's inside of you, will always shine thru!

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


3 Fish In A Pond, Crisis Management Story

Zoomin' for youth of all ages!

Listen with the youngin's on the audio version, over & over & over again on African Folktales podcast!

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National Association of Black Storytellers

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)


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Opening for legendary actress & cultural icon RUBY DEE

2012 : At Ruth Ann's Restaurant in Harlem, New York, Oni presented "Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother" at a book signing for the iconic actress, civil rights activist and author, RUBY DEE. "In This Life Together" was written with her husband, OSSIE DAVIS. 


RUBY DEE is also author of the best seller, "Two Ways To Count To Ten, a Liberian Folktale" and "My One Good Nerve." 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!"  What a compliment!

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Re-telling a Nigerian Folktale

"Everything's Connected" & more stories from fabulous storytellers from around the world.

Listen to the whole series! 

Clik on the Story Story Podcast sign.

re-telling of a Hispanic folktale, "Second Language"

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Listen Here

Why A Storyteller?

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Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King's stories, sermon's and speeches changed a nation.

Listen to Oni's spoken word tribute to MLK Jr.

LISTEN TO "I DREAMT, MLK Jr."
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West Chester Community Performers

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!

Seba Enrichment Academy, West Chester, PA

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Denise Ray, Co-founder of Seba Enrichment Academy

Denise Ray, Co-founder of Seba Enrichment Academy

Denise Ray, Co-founder of Seba Enrichment Academy

Nana Oni shared tales from Liberia, Nigeria, & Gambia. 

Also, sharing information on her display of cultural artifacts from Zimbabwe & Ghana. 


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Girlfriends of Seba Enrichment Academy 2018

Denise Ray, Co-founder of Seba Enrichment Academy

Denise Ray, Co-founder of Seba Enrichment Academy

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.

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Nana Oni with a cowtail switch from Ghana

Denise Ray, Co-founder of Seba Enrichment Academy

Nana Oni with a cowtail switch from Ghana

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!

Story Time At Tobago Library Services 2019

FEATURED STORYTELLER

Featured storyteller at New Jersey Storytelling Festival, Grounds For Sculpture, New Jersey.

The New Jersey Storytelling Network's Festival

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!

Storytelling for adults : via Art-Reach, Inc.

"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

Auntie Oni @ Tobago Library Services 2018

THE MANY MUSES OF ONI LASANA

 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.

*!*

More Workshops Here

~ AFFILIATIONS ~


National Storytelling Network


Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild


NEST North East Storytelling


West Chester Community Performers

like us on Facebook 


National Association of Black Storytellers 


ASALH 

Association of African American Life and History 

(Founded by Carter G. Woodson)

 

Storytelling ~ Theater ~ Language Arts ~ Music ~ History - Wellness

Message Oni on WhatsApp

Voice - Text - Messenger @ 484.885.0153

Philadelphia & Coatesville, Pennsylvania


 © 2021 Oni Lasana Productions

All Rights Reserved


"iF UNIQUE IS WHAT YOU SEEK"

    

  • AUNTI ONI *!*
  • THE STORYTELLER
  • WORKSHOPS
  • APPEARANCES & PODCASTS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • APPLAUSE
  • ABOUT ONI *!*

~ THANKS FOR VISITING ~