ALL 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. If you are interested in Baba performing at your event, please Click Here and fill out our Online Booking Form.
Clients Baba has worked with...
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- 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 thousands of schools and other institutions all across the world. 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. Recently, in 2017, Baba was recognized for his undying commitment to building community and activism by being presented the prestigious Heritage Award by the Aquarium of the Pacific during their Annual African-American Heritage Month Celebrations.
Baba is currently touring internationally and working as a Master Teaching Artist with the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, designing curricula that fuse the arts with classroom instruction.
- English (Primary) 100%
- Spanish (Fluent) 90%
- French (Fluent) 85%
- Bamanakan (Intermediate) 75%
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 –