presents
Baba-C, American Griot:
Folktales from Africa to the Americas
A REPRODUCIBLE LEARNING GUIDE FOR TEACHERS
This learning guide is designed to help you and your students prepare for, enjoy,
and discuss Baba-C, American Griot: Folktales from Africa to the Americas.
Appropriate ages 5-10
PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GIFTS FROM
The Smithsonian Women’s Committee
The Nora Robert’s Foundation
The DC Council on the Arts and Humanities
Siewchin Yong Sommer
About Baba-C
The Honorable Baba-C, GMS one of
America’s foremost Griots & Master
Storytellers--- a father, mentor and
educator--- has been described as a
“Creative force of Nature.” With a
career spanning more than three
decades, Baba-C is a unique
interactive master storyteller using
stories, rhymes, chants, songs and
narratives that pull the audience
into the performance. He often
dresses participants in traditional
African attire and makes them a part of the stories. Baba-C has been experienced in over fifty
countries via a special Voice of America TV/Radio simulcast. A native Washingtonian, Baba-C,
also known as “The Living Library,” has performed in diverse venues that include The
Smithsonian FolkLife Festival on the National Mall, The Kennedy Center, The National Theatre,
The Anacostia Community Museum, Family Day at the National Zoo, National Geographic
Society Museum, the National Children’s Museum, Public Playhouse (MD), THEARC, FundaFest
13 (R.I.), The Textile Museum, The Historic Lincoln Theatre, the Black Family Reunion, the
Sumner School Museum & Archives, community organizations and Everybody Wins!,
Washington, DC’s largest literary and mentoring program.
The Honorable Baba-C, GMS utilizes the cultural arts to inspire and empower students,
teachers, administrators and adults as creator of the Building Active Better Aware Communities
Project (B.A.B.A.-C. Project), co-founder of the Academy for Ideal Education, co-Creator/former
director of a unique summer enrichment program called Learning Is Fun Time (L.l.F.T.), and as
co-Founder of Escape to Freedom, an interactive role playing experience tracing the
Underground Railroad.
From womb to tomb, from pre-natal to ancestors, whether performing, presenting, teaching
games or conducting workshops, Baba-C provides a magical atmosphere nurturing diversity,
cultural awareness, curiosity and a love for reading. A griot’s griot Baba-C has been known to
tell his audiences: “You’re going to have a good time, but if you are not careful… You just might
learn something new!”
What’s a Griot?
Griots are storytellers, singers, musicians, and oral historians. In ancient Africa, they mostly
existed in the western culture where each village had their own (usually a male). They would
tell stories consisting of myths about gods, kings, famous heroes from different battles, and
more! As a way to keep the villages history known, they would memorize it (even all of the
births, deaths, and marriages). Because there were no textbooks or television, this was the
only way that stories of the village’s culture would be passed from generation to generation.
Griots also told stories with moral messages as a way to teach children valuable lessons about
things like the importance of being honest or why you shouldn’t steal. Not only would they tell
these stories just by speaking, but they would also sing songs accompanied by musical
instruments. Different Griots played different instruments (the Balafon, Kora, or Ngoni) and
were considered a very important part of African culture.
Today these storytellers still exist and are quite active; just in a slightly different way. They now
travel the world to share their stories, instead of staying in their home village. Some choose to
tell stories in the form of rap, others sing or do poetry. In fact some of the pop stars from
western Africa consider themselves to be Griots. Others who hold the title choose to stay in
their home village and share their stories at weddings, parties, or other special occasions.
Vocabulary
• Balafon - a percussion instrument similar to a xylophone. It is made out of
wood and has up to 27 keys. The keys are played with wooden or rubber
mallets. The balafon has been around since the 1300s.
• Kora - a stringed instrument similar to a harp, but with some qualities of a
lute. It is traditionally made from a calabash (like a large squash) cut in half and
then covered with cow skin. The neck is made from hardwood. The typical kora
has 21 strings.
• Ngoni - a stringed instrument similar to a lute. The body is made from
hollowed out wood with animal skin stretched across the opening. It has 5 or 6
strings that are plucked with the fingers and thumb when playing.
Online Resources
African Folktales
http://www.worldoftales.com/African_folktales.html
Explore Africa with Anansi!
http://www.pbs.org/wonders/Kids/kids.htm
(click on the big Anansi to get started)
What is a Griot?
https://www.bucknell.edu/Documents/GriotInstitute/What%20is%20a%20Griot.pdf
About Discovery Theater
The mission of The Smithsonian Institution: “The increase and
diffusion of knowledge.” Smithsonian Associates, our unit,
advances the Institution’s mission to “increase and diffuse knowledge” through life-enriching
educational and cultural experiences inspired by the Smithsonian’s research and collections for
students, families, and adults, and for learning communities nationwide.
Discovery Theater has been presenting DC-area children with live educational performances for
35 years. As a program of the Smithsonian Associates, Discovery Theater serves as a child’s
gateway to the exhibitions, collections, and cultures contained in the museums on the National
Mall and beyond. Each year, almost 50,000 Washington-area children and their adults see
Discovery Theater shows and programs -- exploring American history and cultures, folk tales
from around the world, and exciting, accessible science and math programs in the company of
puppeteers, storytellers, dancers, actors, and musicians. Discovery Theater performances unite
ideologies, enact themes that reflect the diversity of its audiences, open avenues of selfreflection, and offer an enjoyable means for parents and teachers to demonstrate life’s lessons.
Visit us online www.DiscoveryTheater.org to learn more!
Our Location
The S. Dillon Ripley Center, 3rd Sublevel
1100 Jefferson Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20024
.
Email: info@DiscoveryTheater.org
Phone: (202) 633-8700
Fax: (202) 633-1322
Office hours: Mon-Fri, 9:00am - 4:30pm
Discovery Theater Staff
Artistic Director: Roberta Gasbarre
Administrative Coordinator: Sara Lokossou
Venue Manger/In-House Technician: Jorge Silva
Tour Manger/Project Manager: Dan Mori
Guide Compiled by: Ty Gamble
Interns: Lauren Chilton, Bobbie Esposito, and
Patrick Smith