B safe. B Well. B Love.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Queens of Storytelling Quilt by MaryAnn 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 & understanding."
"The wonderful song of the soul's high adventure" ... Joseph Campbell, The Power Of Myth.
New Jersey Storytelling Slam 2016
What's inside of you, will always shine thru!
New Jersey Storytelling Slam 2016
In 2016, Oni Lasana came in 1st place in the Story Slam at the 24th Annual New Jersey Storytelling Festival at Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey
"Oni, you rose the bar!"....
Denise McCormack, President of Patchwork, A Storytelling Guild
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
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
Why A Storyteller?
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
FEATURED STORYTELLER
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!
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.
National Association of Black Storytellers
Oni's tears of gratitude, 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 a life member of NABS)
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!
