“I believe the root cause of too much distancing between people is simply fear. I learned from my childhood experience that whenever people come together in harmony and engage into conversations, they will most likely find a level of commonality with one another. This can be done through storytelling as everyone has a story to tell.”

-Baba Wagué Diakité

On April 7th,The Unquowa Community participated in a storytelling event with international author and storyteller, Baba Wagué Diakité. Baba Wagué Diakité deeply believes in the power of storytelling, he believes in this craft so much that he has dedicated his life to it. Baba Wagué is the founder of Ko-Falen Cultural Center, a center in which the youth are educated and taught traditional stories in an effort to preserve them. He noticed that traditional storytelling was becoming obsolete and believes that stories inform the youth on how to live in harmony with nature and how to be part of a community.

I was compelled to organize this community storytelling event featuring fellow African, Baba Wague, because of his belief that inspiration and comfort are found in stories. Growing up in the war-torn country of the Democratic Republic of Congo and refugee camps throughout southern Africa, stories provided the greatest security and hope for me. It was the coming together with people that offered folks solace, and later on, I drew strength from stories in times of uncertainty.

The Unquowa School community got the unique experience of listening to stories and allowing storytelling to quell the high level of stress and uneasiness during the Covid-19 pandemic. The stillness that is required when listening to a story allows us to ease our spirit. Baba Wague, the legendary storyteller and highly respected elder, provided a safety and a gentleness that is needed for children and adults alike.

I encourage anyone who is looking for a book about a childhood in Africa, to read Baba Wagué Diakité’s memoir, A Gift from Childhood:  Memories of an African Boyhood. Unquowa School’s fifth graders read it and have always enjoyed discussions and comparing their childhoods to that of the author!

View a recording of April 7th’s Event Here