STORYTELLERS / MUSICIANS / AUTHORS / POETS
KOTC Logo (c) 1996 Columbus Knox
~ LIFE MEMBERS ~
KAREN "Queen Nur" ABDUL-MALIK
KAREN "Queen Nur" ABDUL-MALIK
KAREN "Queen Nur" ABDUL-MALIK
Past president of The National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. and of KOTC.
Queen Nur was featured in Essence Magazine and recently facilitated a storytelling project in Cameroon, Africa.
NASHID FURAHA ALI
KAREN "Queen Nur" ABDUL-MALIK
KAREN "Queen Nur" ABDUL-MALIK
"Storyteller For Peace"
Before Black Panther...
we had Brother Ali, a multi-instrumental griot for peace & unity.
Nashid is also a jewellery artisan and master drummer.
CHARLOTTE BLAKE - ALSTON
KAREN "Queen Nur" ABDUL-MALIK
CHARLOTTE BLAKE - ALSTON
A founding member of KOTC. Charlotte is a recent recipient of The National Association of Black Storyteller's Brother Blue Storytelling Award.
Charlotte is a international Storyteller, Griot and Jeli. She is storyteller-in-residence for the Philadelphia Orchestra.
RON "Poet Drummer" CARTER
CAROLIESE FRINK-REED, Phd.
RON "Poet Drummer" CARTER
Professional Drummer, Poet & Historical Re-enactor, Ron brings to life Frederick Douglas and other great men of color.
BARBARA EASLEY-COX
CAROLIESE FRINK-REED, Phd.
RON "Poet Drummer" CARTER
Sister Easley-Cox tells real life stories of her life and experiences as a member of the Black Panther Party.
Her story is published in the book;
They Carried Us: The Social Impact of Philadelphia's Black Women Leaders
Baker-Rogers, Allener M.
Congratulation Barbara, for telling your story, claiming your glory!
CAROLIESE FRINK-REED, Phd.
CAROLIESE FRINK-REED, Phd.
CAROLIESE FRINK-REED, Phd.
Storyteller, Librarian and Director of the National Association of Black Storytellers Festival & Conference.
Dr. Frink Reed holds a PHD. in African American Studies and Folktales.
WANDA GIGETTS
ATIYA OLA SANKOFA
DARLENE MURPHY
Founding Member, Past President, Educator, Storyteller, Creative Director. Wanda tells folktales and real tales of the past and present for all ages.
DARLENE MURPHY
ATIYA OLA SANKOFA
DARLENE MURPHY
Philadelphia poet, author and educator. She has penned eight books, including African Animals A-Z a Book of Rhyme and Poetry.
ATIYA OLA SANKOFA
ATIYA OLA SANKOFA
ATIYA OLA SANKOFA
Storyteller, Community Activist and Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw Food Advocate. Atiya Ola is the owner and chef of ATIYA OLA'S SPIRIT FIRST FOODS.
Keepers Of The Culture Members 2021
NZINGA ASEL-EL
JANICE "JAWARA" BISHOP
JANICE "JAWARA" BISHOP
Mama Nzinga
"The Poet"
is a Philly based Performing Artist. She is still exciting her audiences by sharing her Jazz Poetry and Cultural Stories for the last two decades.
A Storyteller and Educator.
Nzinga "The Poet", uses her Art to Educate, Motivate and Uplift!
Nzinga "The Poet" is available for : Live Performances, Workshops, Residencies, and Classes.
JANICE "JAWARA" BISHOP
JANICE "JAWARA" BISHOP
JANICE "JAWARA" BISHOP
A founding member of KOTC, Jawara tells her grandfather's tales, original and fictional stories. A published author, her story "The Crumb Snatchers" is published in "Jump Up and Say! A Collection of Black Storytelling" edited by Linda and Clay Goss.
KAREN BLAYLOCK
JANICE "JAWARA" BISHOP
KAREN BLAYLOCK
Sunshine, Sparkles & Stories!
Karen is also available in the state of Delaware.
PAUL D. BEST
BERNADETTE "BIRDY" ROGERS
DETRIA "DEE" MORRISON
"Our Sun Paul" is serving as our president and is also a middle school educator.
Paul loves telling stories, personal, real and imaginary.
A dynamic and humorous teller, he enjoys taking on characters and engaging everyone in his story circle. Youth focus, listen and learn interesting life lessons in his stories.
DETRIA "DEE" MORRISON
BERNADETTE "BIRDY" ROGERS
DETRIA "DEE" MORRISON
Dee is a spoken word artist & poet. She is one of our early members and a long time supporter of KOTC.
She presently serves as our Vice-President.
BERNADETTE "BIRDY" ROGERS
BERNADETTE "BIRDY" ROGERS
BERNADETTE "BIRDY" ROGERS
"Ms. Birdy" made her debut performance in Kwanzaa 2018. She also serves as our Recording Secretary.
IRMA GARDNER-HAMMOND
IRMA GARDNER-HAMMOND
IRMA GARDNER-HAMMOND
"Storytelling Irma" - past president, is a life time advocate for inter-generational storytelling.
A historical re-enactor and singer with guitar in hand, she brings alive stories with music and interactive songs for all ages.
TOURE' CLARK
IRMA GARDNER-HAMMOND
IRMA GARDNER-HAMMOND
BERNADENE DAVIS
IRMA GARDNER-HAMMOND
BERNADENE DAVIS
"Momma Bernadene" is a author, book publisher, songwriter and vocalist. Her workshop offerings include poetry, personal development, social sustainability and celibacy. She is also a member of International Book Publishers Association.
JOANN FRASIER DASENT
JOANN FRASIER DASENT
JOANN FRASIER DASENT
Storyteller and mentor, Joann is also the founder of ROOTS, Regenerating Our Offspring Through Stories, Inc. "Auntie Jo Jo" retold and published Aesop's fable, "A Farmer, His Son and Their Mule: A Teachable Moment."
YOUR SPACE
JOANN FRASIER DASENT
JOANN FRASIER DASENT
Our elder have the best stories, we encourage arm chair raconteur's or seasoned tellers to join our circle.
MAMA CARLA WILEY
BROTHER GRIOT!
BROTHER GRIOT!
MAMA CARLA WILEY
BROTHER GRIOT!
We are calling out your name in our story! If you are an aspiring or professional storyteller, griot, author, musician, dancer, poet, performing or teaching artist, this is your space.
MAMA CARLA WILEY
MAMA CARLA WILEY
MAMA CARLA WILEY
"Mom Read" is a librarian, storyteller of folktales, real tales and historical events. A sharer of stories for everyone and all ages.
REV. DENISE TROUTMAN-WOOTEN
REV. DENISE TROUTMAN-WOOTEN
REV. DENISE TROUTMAN-WOOTEN
Dr. Denise M. Wooten-Troutman is a mother and grandmother, a forty-year certified educator, Pastor of WDEBC Evangelistic Church, historical and biblical dramatist, motivational speaker, and the founder of DeMi Woo-T LLC.
BABA SETH YELDELL
REV. DENISE TROUTMAN-WOOTEN
REV. DENISE TROUTMAN-WOOTEN
African folktales! Told in the traditions of our elders.
COUSIN MILLIE
REV. DENISE TROUTMAN-WOOTEN
COUSIN MILLIE
Family, folktales and famous folk stories from your favorite cousin!
PAM PAM ROBB
PAM PAM ROBB
PAM PAM ROBB
Pam is a storyteller, writer, Poet, Photographer, recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr, Freedom medal and a decorated Army Veteran.
Mom Pamma loves telling stories, especially children's original and imaginary animal stories while using rain sticks.
She is the author of a recorded story, How The Zebra Got His Stripes.
JACKIE WIGGINS
PAM PAM ROBB
PAM PAM ROBB
Jackie is a docent at the historic Johnson House in Philadelphia.
The Johnson House is a National Historic Landmark in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, significant for its role in the antislavery movement and the Underground Railroad.
YOUR SPACE!
PAM PAM ROBB
YOUR SPACE!
Become a Keepers Of The Culture Storyteller!
We welcome aspiring & professional storytellers, artists, musicians, poets, & all creatives who are in support of our mission, to join us!
With YOU : KOTC grows!
KOTC is a non-profit organization.
Your generous tax-deductible donations will fund our mission.
Your support will also allow us to bring quality arts-in-education programs to under served schools and neighborhoods in Philadelphia and in the PA, NJ, DE tri-state area.
KOTC accept checks or money orders via KOTC P. O. Box 15083, Phila. PA 19130.
ALSO, for your convenience feel free to securely submit your credit or debit card for membership payments or a donation by clicking on the PAY PAL button below.
Thank you!
