Raouf Mama, Benin Griot - African Story Teller

Answers to many of life’s mysteries, including the question of “why goats smell so bad,” will be revealed this month when internationally known African Story Teller, Raouf Mama journeys to Hackettstown on Saturday, Feb 19, to share his special tale-weaving magic with audiences a the Centenary Performing Arts Guild.

A premiere Benin Griot (story-teller) Dr. Mama is a professor of English at Eastern Connecticut State University, and is also the author of several books of traditional stories from his heritage, including “Pearls Of Wisdom,” “ Why Goats Smell so Bad, and Other Stories from Benin, ” and “The Barefoot Book of Tropical Tales.” His popular performances are a magical blend of African and multicultural stories with poetry, music, and dance. Mama reveals, through the power of the oral tradition, the connection between African literature and African folklore as well as the power of folktales as multicultural teaching and learning tools. A taste of African Dance and the traditional “Call and Response” story telling beckons the audience into the mood of the performance. In “Call and Response,” the story teller repeats a particular phrase a few times during the course of a story, and the audience responds with a set phrase they have learned.

Raouf is currently the only one in the world who performs indigenous tales from his native Benin in English. Benin was formerly known as the Kingdom of Dahomey, and Benin was a jumping off point for the slave trade of the 17th century. Remnants of its culture are the heritage of many black people in the United States, Brazil, Haiti, Cuba and other Caribbean countries.
Mama's translated tales have appeared in Storytelling Magazine, Parabola, Connecticut Review and Facts and Fiction.

Raouf Mama is the recipient of two Connecticut State University Excellence Awards, A Greater Hartford Arts Council Artist Award and an artist fellowship from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts.

Performances

Special Afternoon Performance - for young audiences
A special afternoon performance for young audiences will be offered at 2 PM. Tickets for the afternoon performance will be $8 for adults and $6.50 for children under 12.

Evening Concert Performance
The evening concert performance for general audiences will be offered at 8 PM. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.

Tickets
Tickets for Raouf Mama are now available online using our Secure Online Ordering System or by calling the Guild Box office at 908-979-0900.

Secure Online Tickets/Ordering