Specialty: Combination of Rhythm, Voice & Drum
Baba Jamal Koram has been called the “storyteller’s storyteller.” He is the recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston Award of the National Association of Blackstorytellers; the Circle of Excellence Oracle Award of the National Storytelling Network, the Smithsonian Legacy Award, and has been a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival, the Kennedy Center; Smithsonian museums and festivals,outdoor and regional events, theaters and museums. With a jembe drum and mbira, Baba Jamal tells stories, nationally, in pre k -12 schools, and libraries; and has performed at army bases in Germany, and in schools, colleges, libraries, prisons througout the USA and in Pretoria and Johannesburg in South Africa. In addition to storytelling, Baba has directed Rites of Passage camps, storytheater presentations, and is currently the director of the African American Storytelling Arts Annual Retreat. Baba Jamal has earned the B.A., M.S., and Ed.S. degrees. His stories encourage creative thought; promotes common courtesy, respecting elders, keeping friends, and stimulate hope, courage, and overcoming obstacles.