A Mixed Medicine Bag

by Mwalim

Contemporary Black Indian Storytelling In Print

BOSTON, MA - Talking Drum Press returns to the publishing world with the release of A Mixed Medicine Bag, Original Black Wampanoag Folklore by Mwalim *7) (Second Edition) on February 2, 2007 (ISBN 0966242815, Paperback, 156 pages).

How did the turtle get its shell? How does one become a millionaire? Why do roosters crow at the sun? Where do Backwoods people come from? Open A Mixed Medicine Bag and you just may find the answers, in this witty and entertaining collection of verbal-to-literary jazz, funk'n folklore.

Originally released as a chapbook of seven stories in 1998, this edition A Mixed Medicine Bag contains 15 original Black Wampanoag folk-tales taken from the award-winning storytelling performances of Mwalim *7); one of the contemporary masters of the oral tradition.

Drawing from his Eastern Native American, West Indian, and African American storytelling traditions, Mwalim *7) has shared his original lore with audiences at powwows, festivals, colleges, churches, community centers, schools, theatres, jails, street corners, night clubs, and coffeehouses throughout the USA and Canada for over eighteen years.

"Brother Mwalim's tales are a wonderful addition to the American storytelling tradition." - James Spruill, Actor, Director, Co-founder of New African Company, Associate Professor Emeritus, Boston University

"Mwalim's brand of storytelling is a unique and engaging blend of social commentary, intertwined with wry humor for all ages." - Ed Bullins, Legendary Playwright, Distinguished Artist-In-Residence, Northeastern University

"A Mixed Medicine Bag brings together the voices of African and Native American storytellers through this young master of the oral tradition. Mwalim *7 )'s tales honor the ancestors." - Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets

"His work takes you on a journey of conscious thought and lets your imagination ride through a harmonic and rhythmic path." - Vernon C. Robinson (Aka, VCR) Founder, BloodSkinLand Productions & Host of VerBaLizAtiOn

"Mwalim is a Native-Afro street poet and storyteller whose flow takes you through the valleys and mountains of a world as experienced by a Black Wampanoag Warrior who keeps it real all of the time!" - Cedric "Qaqeemasq" Cromwell (Running Bear), Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Board Member

When asked why he decided to create folk-tales, Mwalim responded, "An integral, yet grossly overlooked, common aspect of many storytelling traditions is the creation of new folktales. It remains imperative that we not only reflect on our past, but on our present, as well." In discussing his experiences as a storyteller for schools, and libraries requested "authentic" Native and Black stories. "Particularly in the native traditions, many traditional stories are not appropriate to tell outside of their cultural contexts and communities." A wry smile forms on his face, "As an authentic Mashpee Wampanoag of African ancestry; and having been raised in my cultures, I can assure you that all of my tales are authentic.

Mwalim (Morgan James Peters, I) is an award winning, Mashpee Wampanoag performing artist, writer, and educator. A master storyteller, his body of work includes many plays, stories, performance pieces, essays, poems, articles, and musical compositions. Growing up immersed in the oral traditions of his Black and Northeastern Native American heritages, Mwalim is a keeper of both the New World Griot and Wampanoag Ahanaeenun (Clown) traditions. His body of work is a rich blend of humor, folk-wisdom, and social commentary. As a performer his stages have included theatres, coffeehouses, powwows, festivals, nightclubs, colleges, museums, schools, jails, temples, libraries, and street corners throughout the USA and Canada. He is a recording artist on Midnight Groove Records.

As a folklorist and educator, Mwalim has been an artist-in-residence and lecturer at arts and educational institutions throughout the eastern United States. An Assistant Professor of English and African/ African American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, his Black Folklore & Aesthetics course is one of the most popular classes on campus. Mwalim is a playwright-in-residence at New African Company in Boston, and a Historian for the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. He is a past recipient of the Longwood Cyber Artist Fellowship, the 2003 New York Theatre Forum's "Outstanding New Playwright" award, and a three-time recipient of the Ira Aldridge Fellowship. Mwalim earned his BA in Music and MS in Film from Boston University as well as an MFA from Goddard College. Mwalim currently lives in the National Wampanoag Territory (Southeastern Massachusetts) with his son, Zyggi.

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MWALIM *7)
Performing Artist, Writer, Filmmaker
http://www.mwalim.com
http://www.myspace.com/mwalim7

alan@newsblaze.com