Award-Winning Storyteller, Featured Artist, Educational
Entertainer. Sharing the traditional art form of storytelling
with interactive rhythms and drums.
Diversity Speaker
Spoken Word/Poetry.
Key Note Speaker.
Workshop Facilitator.
Parent Involvement Specialist.
Early Childhood Education.
After School
Special Event
Children's Birthday Parties.
Graduation Celebration
Folktales. Original Stories.
Motivational Speaking; Church Events.
Senior Programming. Main Stage Filler.
Baby Naming Ceremony; Wedding; Holiday, Poet.
Juneteenth. Kwanzaa. Black History Month. MLK Day
Multi-session workshop with a culminating event
Speech Forensics 2nd-12th grade.
Oba William King was outstanding as the feature artist at the Black History month celebration program at the Aurora Township Senior Center. The event was a collaboration between Senior Services Associates, Inc., Aurora Township, and the City of Aurora Youth & Senior Services. Mr. King's message was that although it was a Black History month celebration, all of those in attendance were connected on a human level with more similarities than differences and that people can get along and work/interact together in a comfortable manner. Oba William used a variety of skills to keep the senior audience captivated, including spoken word, story telling, singing, and playing of the congas. At the completion of the presentation, Mr. King received a rousing round of applause and was greeted afterwards by various people in attendance thanking him and seeking more information about the work that he does.
Discovered Obas videos and audios today. I want to get my mom a copy of the ILMP audio or ringtones for her cellphone for her 80th birthday in August. My 94 year old aunt would want it to for her physical therapy sessions. I like the eagle story also but I can't workout to it.
Oba anbd friends were the keynote speaker at the Clean Water Celebration in Peoria. Weaving together poetry, dance, storytelling and music he captivated a very large Civic Center Theater filled with nearly 3000 middle school kids. There was heart and passion, science and history! I have also seen him perform for his peers, other storytellers, and for pre-schoolers and he is always a highlight of any event he is a part of! I would highly recommend him for any audience.
The Poetic Storyteller performed at both of my sons' schools. He captivated the crowd. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed his stories, songs and drumming. We especially loved his interactive pieces and his signature song, "I Love My People." Oba King is an incredibly talented storyteller and a very nice person.
I've also seen him perform for adult audiences and they are just as enthralled by him. My advice? Book him for your next event.
Oba William King was a hit at the Robert Clow Elementary School 8th Annual Storytelling Festival. The students enjoyed every minute of his performances from our kindergartners to 5th graders and our staff too! The stories he told and the poetry he recited were entertaining and educational.
Mr. King is a true professional! The energy and excitement he brought to his presentation captured the audience from beginning to end. You can tell he loves what he does and he gets everyone he performs for to love it too. Mr. King kicked off our summer reading program with African percussions and story telling that incorporated themes of Father's day, juneteenth and our systemwide theme of reading is artragous! Children, parents and staff were drawn by his interactive performance. We can't wait to have him back. I highly recommend the poetic storyteller Oba William King!
Price Range: $400.00 and Up
Gig Length: 30 - 90 minutes
Languages: English
Insurance: $100,000.00 - Full Coverage ( must be updated per performance site ) Fractured Atlas Artist/Performer
Unions: SAG-AFTRA
Joy, Enlightenment, Cultural Awareness, Communication Skills, Encouragement, Community Togetherness, Parent Involvement, Stimulated Imagination. Rhythm, Diversity, Hope, KAOS :) - Educational Entertainment, Traditional Folk Art, Unity, Motor skills development for young audiences, and Opportunity to share memories for Seniors. The sound of African Drums, The Oratory Skills of a Talented Performer, Stories that make you laugh, cry, chuckle, wonder, and imagine. Every Season has a package: Halloween Stories, Winter - HOLIDAY Stories, African American Stories of Courage, Hope, Understanding During All Year long - But Especially African American Heritage Month, Spring Time is Time for rejuvenation, all the Stories during this season are crafted to celebrate the season. Summer time Starts with Graduation and Juneteenth and Wedding celebrations and Summer Reading Programs and - Outdoor Fun, and Family Reunions. Many of the recorded stories are collected and available on CD - The most poplar I Love My People, is a fabulous testament striving for the Unity of America. Classics like: Creation, The Bridge, Eagles Who Thought They Were Chickens and An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Oba's Storytelling Presentation are like a theatrical Experience: Programs for Early Childhood, and Special Pre-School to Kindergarten, to Elementary to Primary grades to Middle School to High School, to College Prep and University and Parents Programs as well as Family Reading Night and Grand Parents Day.
Oba is an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Award Recipient in Traditional
Folk Arts, A Jewel/Osco Hidden Jewel of The Neighborhood; A Gwendolyn
Brooks Hands on Stanza’s award recipient as well as other distinguished
awards. He is a featured artist through Center Stage for WTTW television in
Chicago; the Bermuda State Library; PBS radio station WBEZ FM
program “So Many Ways To Tell A Story;” The Bronzeville Children’s
Museum, CPS Early Childhood Education, and
The Sun Foundation's Arts and Science in the Woods.
Oba’s history of presenting programs for teen, adult and seasoned
adult audiences dates back to 1994 “Breaking Chains” a one-man
show at Beatrice Community College in Nebraska.
In 1998 Oba received an award nomination for the lead role in
Dracula at Lifeline Theatre, in Chicago. His trend-setting
presentation of Sound of a Voice, by David Henry Hwang was
presented at The Halsted Theatre in Pilsen, 2001.
In 2008 Oba won the Black Theatre Alliance award-for best lead male
actor for his portrayal of Louie in Louie and Ophelia at ETA Theatre
also in Chicago, Illinois. During 2010 Oba's programs are featured as Headliner for Fox Valley Storytelling Festival, The Celtic Knot, Evanston Illinois, Stage Left/Spoken Word Cafe Woodstock, Illinois, Signifying and Testifying Storytelling Concert Minneapolis, Minnesota, St Louis Public Library Dream Weavers program, National Association of Black Storytellers, 37 and 38 Annual Concert and Festival. During 2011 Oba was re-invited to many of the past year's locations and added a few more very exciting gigs, including:
North Carolina Imagine On Library and Theatre Center, Charlotte North Carolina, International Book Fair Miami Fl, Phinchic productions Holiday presentation Calgary, Canada. District 502 Speed Education Center, and many others.
2012 is off to a wonderful start... Oba will present his workshop "The Healing Voice" Northlands Storytelling Conference in Lake Geneva WI April 24-28. Featured presenter@ Greenville South Carolina at the annual Chautauqua in June, until then Oba's interactive student storyteller workshop: See What I'm Saying, is currently in residency at South Shore International College Prep. Coming September 2012 Oba will return to Minnesota for Signifyin and Testifyin also a first time participant in Beaver Tales, annual festival and storytelling concert in Pittsburg, Pa. We are looking forward to our return to Sterling, Il for the Sterling Library Annual Festival, Sterling/Rock Falls, IL... Labor day Weekend.
Sound Equipment needed Mic- Monitor, Boom Stand, MP3 - Cd player, Djembe Drum with table and cloth. Material can be adapted to fit the venue and theme. Some events request 20 min, fee negotiations to make the event cost effective.
| July 17, 2014 • 10:00am - 11:30am | Other |
This List Changes per venue Selections can be intermixed to fit the theme, New material being created constantly please ask if you don't see the story style that fits your needs. :
Mr. Wiggle Mr Waggle... (Jim May)
Finger Play Story, with participatory sound effects Call and Response with wonderful energy of finding and keeping friends.
OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY
American Classic presented in sing a-long style with the rhythm of the drum
ANASI AND HIS 6 CHILDREN
The great spider is saved by his children using their Special gifts
SPIDER AND THE HONEY TREE
African Folk Tale of how a smart little girl out sits the greedy Spider
KIMBERLY ANN ELIZABETH HALL (Emma Young)
A Rhyming tale about finding joy in who you are!
MY AMERICA (Jan Spivey Gilchrist)
A picture book story, about US. American’s All!
BEAUTIFUL BLACK BIRD( Ashley Bryan)
Fantastic imagery about the beauty with in us
JAMBO Means Hello (Ella Jenkins)
DJEMBE DRUM, Learning game sing-a-long
THE COUNTING SONG (KiSwahli)
TRANSLATING NUMBERS1-10 in the popular African Language
OBALINA WILLAMINA The Worlds Most Beautiful Ballerina
An original Story--- includes a fantastical tale about a girl with secret agent powers…
From Ring Around The Roses, Hokey Pokey, Rain, Rain and Ms Mary Mac
a wonderful nursery rhyme tale. Our little hero travels all the way to a place Far, Far Away. The Children join in singing all songs including Twinkle Little Star
FROGGY GETS DRESSED (Johnathon London)
I Wanna Play In the Snow…. The Little frog learns an embarrassing lesson!
GRUMPY BIRD
Nothing goes right, if you don’t get a good breakfast
WHY MOSQUITOES BUZZ IN PEOPLES EARS (African Folk Tale)
A cause is something that makes something else happen;
An effect is what happens as a result of the cause. The idea that the mosquito is to blame for the unfortunate demise of the owl’s little baby.
WHY THE SKY IS SO FAR AWAY
The Importance about conservation, Do Not Waste our natural Gifts.
HOW THE STARS GOT INTO THE SKY
A fantasy Tale about Finding your Magic
JAMARI'S DRUM
A lesson about responsibility and introduction to the African Drum Djembi!-
Ki_shawhli language and translations.
SHEA, SHEA, COOLEA (african Dance Song)
Time to dance and Move Around… The African Play Ground song
Shared with children as Oba keeps them going with Head Shoulder’s Knees and Toes
THE BIG MOUTH FROG
Searching for new friends a little frog has a close call
RUN AWAY BUNNY(Margaret Brown)
No matter where you go, I’ll always be there. A little bunny wants to “get Away”
But Mommy has some other ideas. Unconditional Love
I LOVE YOU FOREVER (Robert Munsch)
A parents love is returned in the end… and the cycle continues
TIME TO PLAY (Oba)
Popular Music Rhythms, and rhyming story song of a child’s imagination
Running wild..
FIREFLY AND THE LITTLE STAR. (Oba)
I see the light in You, You See the light in me, Together we shine:
A beautiful story of how We all Need each other, namaste'.
PLEASE BABY PLEASE (Spike and Tonya Lee)
Using the fantastical Call and Response – Story style, This picture boofk comes to life
As Oba’ encourages the audience to join in on the telling.
THE THREE BEARS meet Golden Locks...
An old favorite with a new twist. The little girl with the glowing smile
And Mama Bear, has “ an Attitude!”
ANANSI'S TALE - Where Stories Come From
Long ago, the fable goes…The children had no-thing to do Until Anansi
Brought the stories back from the Sky King.
EAGLES WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE CHICKENS rise up and live as great as you know you are.
THE BRIDGE Two brother's mend their difference
CREATION By James Weldon Johnson
THE STORY OF LIFT EVERY VOICE The ANthem of the African American People
I LOVE MY PEOPLE The Anthem of a new generation of American's (video available on youtube-obking)
COWTAIL SWITCH- a person's spirit stays with us as long as they are remembered.
F.O.O.L. FRESH OUT OF LUCK - Search for what every one else has, will cause you to lose what you've been given
IT'S ALL ADAMS FAULT - responsibility, own up!
Phil Cohran - Kelan - Master Educator, Oscar Brown Jr. - James Brown the hardest working man in show business. Baba Jamal Koram - Masrer Storyteller, Jim May founder of Illinois Storytelling, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., Stevie Wonder. Michael Jackson
Microphone, Monitor, Amp, Speakers, Cd or MP3 Stage, Chair & Djembe Drum
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