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The words of Sojourner Truth and Fannie Lou Hamer are powerful enough when read from the printed page. When the thoughts of these brave black women are spoken by Chicago storyteller Momma Kemba, their force leaves an indelible mark.

Momma Kemba's engaging one-woman show captures the spirit of historically significant African-American women from across the centuries. Through fully costumed dramatic storytelling rich with a cappella song, Momma Kemba has been enlightening, encouraging and entertaining audiences for years.

Along with her moving reincarnations of Harriet Tubman, Mary McLeod Bethune, Clara Brown, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells and Fannie Lou Hamer, Momma Kemba extends her talent to readings of the written works of Paul L. Dunbar, Langston Hughes and Frederick Douglas.

Related Links

If you like what you hear, head to Spring Grove for the Illinois Storytelling Festival, where you may just run into festival founder, Jim May.

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Watch as Momma Kemba is transformed into Harriet Tubman, the "Moses of her people," in a segment taped for Arts Across Illinois: CenterStage in 2004.

 

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Child/Youth Podcast

Perf. Arts Podcast

Storytelling Podcast

 

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Kemba as Mary McLeod Bethune, an activist who fought to improve educational opportunities for African-Americans.

 

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