27th Annual FUNDA FEST: A Celebration of Black Storytelling

 From Newport to South Kingstown to Westerly, Providence to Pawtucket, to East Providence  Rhode Island Black Storytellers (RIBS) announces the 27th  Annual FUNDA FEST, a celebration of Black Storytelling to be held from Friday, January 17th - Sunday, January 26th, 2025.
 
Internationally acclaimed storytellers will captivate and educate audiences with tales deeply rooted in Black traditions. Marking 27 years of sharing these rich stories, FUNDA FEST 27 stands as a beacon of community impact and change. This year, we celebrate Legends and Legacies, presenting a variety of performers in programs that include Spoken Word, Hip Hop, Folklore and History. Programs will be available in person and via live broadcast.
 
FUNDA means to teach and learn in Zulu and KiSwahili, and for 9 days, adults and children will be able to experience some of the best cultural arts programming across Rhode Island at venues that include schools, K-12, community and cultural arts centers, libraries,  and theaters. Stories and storytelling make learning  and cultural experiences fun for all ages. Funda Fest is known for the Free Family FUN Day concerts and workshops where intergenerational storytellers entertain and teach others of all ages how to tell their own stories.  This year also includes FUNDA ACROSS RI, with mini Family Fun Days through the State.
 
The festival’s highlights include performances by globally acclaimed artists such as Teju Ologboni, Muriel Johnson, Mitch “Gran’daddy Junebug”, Riders Against the Storm, and Nestor Gomez.  Additionally, RIBS storytellers Len Cabral, Ramona Bass Kolobe, Raffini, Rochelle Garner Coleman, Marlon Carey, Sylvia Ann Soares, Rachel Briggs, and Valerie Tutson will grace the stage, enriching the celebration.  New this year is a showcase performance of the recent graduates of RIBS’ first Legacy Academy: A Culturally Based Storytelling Training Program.  
 
The festivities kick off with our Opening Party at the RIBS home at Southside Cultural Center of RI. Enter in with the Blackout Drum Squad, join us for an opening ceremony to honor some of our own Local Legends, and then, get ready to party to the music of the Slick Fantaztic. The weekend events continue with FUNDA ACROSS Rhode Island, presenting Free Family Fun Days in Newport, Westerly, Wakefield, and Pawtucket offering interactive storytelling programs and engaging activities for families to create cherished memories together.  Saturday night, back at SCCRI, experience the stories of the emerging storytellers from the Legacy Academy.
 
Partnering with OUTSPOKEN PVD curated by Sara Lopes, we present Words and Music at the Southside Cultural Center of RI on Sunday, January 19,  blending poetry, spoken word, vendors, and a live DJ for a vibrant evening.
 
During the week, join RIBS and invited guests for Community Flavors, an event where all who come can share stories and food, celebrating Nigerian and Guatemalan culture at OASIS International, in honor of our national artist, Nestor Gomez. 
 
The Liar's Contest, a beloved tradition, invites participants to sign up and tell their tallest tales before a panel of judges on Friday, January 24th  at the Cape Verdean Club in East Providence, hosted by Nationally known Mitch “Gran’daddy Junebug” Capel and the incomparable Jess Brown, aka Lady J. Cash prices included! 
 
To celebrate the Art of Storytelling in Hip Hop, Urban Legends this year features Edo G,  and Riders Against the Storm, and more surprises at the Southside Cultural Center of RI—an event not to be missed!
 
To wrap up FUNDA FEST 27, join RIBS all weekend at CCRI: Liston Campus for a Free Family Fun Day from 10-4 pm. Activities include drumming and capoeira workshops, local artisans, performances by the RIBS Youth tellers and for families, line dancing and an evening concert for grown folk. The festival concludes Sunday, January 26 with Sacred Tales.