Share an evening of jazz and poetry featuring Marvin F. Cockrell and Focus with your beloved amidst the backdrop of the captivating exhibit, “Color in Freedom,” by Joseph A. Holston. Admission $15 per person includes hors d’œuvres. Non-refundable pre-paid reservations required by Feb. 10. To make reservations, call 314-241-7057 or send e-mail to thegriotmuseum@aol.com
Today, had my mother lived past May 2006, she would have been 94 years old, the same age as my father is now. She taught both inside and outside the classroom. This December 2007 post from the Riehlife archives shares her teaching philosophy.
RED CARPET PREMIERE SCREENING of the documentary film: Against All Odds: A Story of Courage, Community and Spirit in East St Louis, Illinois The film tells the important story of East St Louis – past and present. It brings new hope and a new kind of image to a misunderstood city. Two important screening dates…
Our latest book “Worth Remembering: The Poetry of Our Heritage,” edited by my father Erwin A. Thompson is now available on-line.
Sightlines Janet Grace Riehl iUniverse Inc. ISBN: 0-595-37499-9 Genre(s): Poetry Reviewed by Ernest Dempsey Death sometimes brings about a radical swing in the way the survivors look at life. Janet Grace Riehl, an award-winning author, has written a poetry book Sightlines (iUniverse Inc., Lincoln, 2006) that expresses her feelings about the beauties and frailties of…
Between August 4th to August 26th, Riehlife travels to Southern Africa—South Africa and Botswana. I’ve decided not to take too many gadgets, so I’ll be leaving my laptop and cellphone at home. I’ll be in erratic computer contact, so I cannot say if I’ll be able to update Riehlife while I’m gone or not. Maybe…
Jane Ollendorff hosts Sweet Dreams & Nightmares, mixed media works by Janiece Senn at Marbles Gallery. Opening reception: Saturday May 8th, 6-9 p.m. Janiece Senn’s new mixed media work “Sweet Dreams & Nightmares” Marbles Gallery 1905 Park Avenue, just east of Mississippi, in Lafayette Square. Call 314.791.6466 Stop by to share art, wine and meet…
Someone just told me this definition of Griot. Wonder if they got it from Wikipedia? –Janet
A griot is a West African poet, praise singer, and wandering musician, considered a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards. In African languages, griots are referred to by a number of names: jeli in northern Mande areas, jali in southern Mande areas, guewel in Wolof, gawlo in Pulaar (Fula), and igiiw (or igawen) in Hassaniyya Arabic. Griots form an endogamous caste, meaning that most of them only marry fellow griots and that those who are not griots do not normally perform the same functions that they perform.