N. DARTMOUTH – Back in May of 2009, Frederick Douglass Unity House Director, Keith Wilder and Associate Professor, Mwalim were having a discussion about plans for the center. Mwalim, a FDUH faculty-in-residence since 2004, expressed an interest in turning a corner of the UMass Dartmouth student service center into a performance space. Keith Wilder loved the idea and with a few discussions about logistics, Wilder oversaw the creation of an 8’x 8’ performance space, which has been used for presentations of open mic poetry and lectures since September of 2009.On Monday, February 22, 2010, at 12pm noon, “The Griot’s Corner” ill receive a new world griot’s dedication and blessing ceremony, to be conducted by Mwalim (MJ Peters), Associate Professor of English and African/ African American Studies. The word “Griot” (pronounced gree-oh) is a term for the keepers of oral tradition in the various cultures of West Africa. In the new world context, this term applies to poets, singers, storytellers, actors and musicians. The ceremony will begin at 12 noon and will include music by Royal Hartigan and Mwalim. The Frederick Douglass Unity House is in the campus center complex, UMass Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, N. Dartmouth, MA 02747.
This event is free and open to the public. For more info: 508-999-9222.
