About Baba

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Baba the Storyteller has been a professional speaker since 1994 and is one of the few recognized U.S. born practitioners of the ancient West African storytelling craft known as Jaliyaa. He has received numerous awards over the years for his work as a folklorist, traditional harpist, storyteller, community activist and volunteer. Baba has been contracted as a consultant, performed, and/or lectured for institutions such as:

  • Walt Disney
  • Barnes and Noble Bookstores
  • California Youth Authority
  • The Boeing Company
  • Children’s Hospital of Orange County
  • Aquarium of the Pacific
  • San Jose Unified School District
  • University of California Long Beach
  • San Diego Public Library System
  • University of La Verne
  • French American Schools Los Angeles
  • Public Corporation for the Arts
  • Claremont Colleges
  • Cerritos Performing Arts Center
  • The Los Angeles County Museum of Art
  • City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs
  • J. Paul Getty Museum
  • International Pan African Film Festival
  • California Association for Bilingual Education
  • Los Angeles County Arts Commission
  • United States Customs and Border Patrol
  • Los Angeles Natural History Museum
  • County of Los Angeles Library System
  • Orange County Performing Arts Center
  • University of Warsaw Poland
  • Children’s Hospital of Orange County
  • Museum of Latin American Art

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PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Baba has presented in hundreds of schools and other institutions. He is also a recipient of a California State Assembly Certificate of Recognition for his creative uses of storytelling and his commitment to community in working with troubled teens. The City of Long Beach California recognized Baba as their municipality’s Artist of the Year, an award presented to him by the Mayor. He has also earned additional commendations from both the U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress.

Baba is currently touring festivals and working as a Master Teaching Artist with the Orange County Performing Arts Center, designing curricula which fuse the arts with classroom instruction.

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LANGUAGES:

  • English (primary)
  • Spanish (fluent)
  • French (fluent)
  • Bamanakan (intermediate)

APPRENTICESHIPS:

  • Toumani Diabaté – Mali West Africa
  • Boubacar Cissoko – Senegal West Africa
  • Koka Sali – Guinea West Africa
  • Badialy Cissoko – Senegal West Africa
  • Alhaji Papa Susso – The Gambia West Africa

TESTIMONIALS:

“His phenomenal gifts are a natural expression of an intelligent, compassionate heart and his wonderfully relevant stories need to be heard in these troubled times – now more than ever.” – The J. Paul Getty Museum -

“One of the most interactive, alive and well attended storytelling sessions in Los Angeles County Museum of Art history.”

- Los Angeles County Museum of Art -

“His amazing talent is matched by the depth of spirit and wisdom conveyed through his songs and stories.”

- The Aquarium of the Pacific -

“I am convinced by your work that you are one of the best storytellers alive.”

- Abdinasir Haji-Bare, founder of SpokenStories.org -

Note: To receive an extended list of references and letters of recommendations click here on contact and submit your request.