BABA the STORYTELLER

A teacher for one of the kinder classes I was working with, drew this drawing of me, along with a host of others from her students. I'll be posting the student's drawings In a bit, but just wanted to take a moment and thank her for investing the time to create something beautiful. Thank you Mrs. Mahmoud! https://www.instagram.com/p/CalNhzPvkab/?utm_medium=tumblr

I am in the presence of some of the most humble, respectful students I have had the honor of teaching in some time. I want to thank all of those parents who still teach respect for others. #babathestoryteller https://www.instagram.com/p/CZKcGqMvG10/?utm_medium=tumblr

The movie I did with @Blippi & Meekah just came out this morning on YouTube (search “Blipp and The Holiday Show Globe Movie”). I make my entrance somewhere around 19:00. Thank you @stevinwjohn @kaitlinbex and @moonbugentertainment for an incredible experience. (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWyRpXupS_4/?utm_medium=tumblr

at Crystal Cove State Park https://www.instagram.com/p/CWmTrvVpQfC/?utm_medium=tumblr

I’m starting to think that some kids have excellent taste in music. 👏🏾 (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCEYfhvanj/?utm_medium=tumblr

I’ve got four new albums of music and stories available for streaming one on #spotify. #babathestoryteller https://www.instagram.com/p/CV1cjEvprU6/?utm_medium=tumblr

I spent the entire day @waldorfschooloforangecounty and presented In the evening to families. What an incredibly affirming experience. (at The Waldorf School Of Orange County) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVj3FUmlPwc/?utm_medium=tumblr

The affirmations continue to rain down on me. As I was finishing up and leaving a classroom a child put this little not in my bag. Do you remember this kind of note from back in the day? #babathestoryteller (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVBFM54J8Rg/?utm_medium=tumblr

I love this sign that a principal out outside of a school I’m working at today. #babathestoryteller (at Willard F. Payne Elementary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CU5XFlDJ8lY/?utm_medium=tumblr

*Sworn to Secrecy on the set of @blippi Finally! I’ve been holding on to this little piece of intel since I did the video shoot for B @blippi and @moonbugentertainment a few weeks ago and now I can finally blurt it out. They are launching a new character on the show and her name is Meekah, played by the incredible young actress @kaitlinbex who used to host the children’s show “Sunny Side Up” on PBS Kids. I promised the crew that I would not publish these images until the date of Meekah's launch. Today Is Meekah's official launch day! The episode we shot together is going to air on November 27, 2021. I’ll keep everyone updated if there are any changes. I couldn’t write fully about my experience because I needed to include both @stevinwjohn (Blippi) and @katlinbex (Meekah) in detailing my experience on the set. First, I’ve got to say that I think @stevinwjohn is an incredible visionary way beyond the character he created. There were times on set when I felt for him because I could see his mind keeping hundreds of plates spinning at once. With that being said, he still found the time to be supportive and encouraging. At one point, he even made sure to hold my book up so that it would appear in the episode. Now that’s someone who really gets it! Kaitlin, I found to be highly skilled in her craft, meticulous, and very nurturing. Because I’m multilingual, sometimes I run into a wall with code-switching. I was needing to speak on each of the days of Kwanzaa using their names in Kiswahili. For some reason, my brain kept wanting to jump to Spanish (code switch over to Spanish). Kaitlin noticed my dilemma and called for a few subtle changes to the script, which helped me tremendously. I could go on and on writing about my day on the set of Blippi & Meekah’s show but I’ll let the pictures speak their proverbial thousand words. Thank you for taking the time to read this and accompanying me on this journey we call life. (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUxd-PdlAKf/?utm_medium=tumblr

I love children’s artwork! https://www.instagram.com/p/CUwYFRZLSr8/?utm_medium=tumblr

Today I spent the entire day with students and staff @waldorfschooloforangecounty and left feeling honored, blessed and affirmed. They rolled out the red carpet for this old storyteller and I could not be more sincerely grateful for the love. #waldorfeducation #babathestoryteller (at Orange County, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CULwLUapNw2/?utm_medium=tumblr

We are unbelievably excited to kick off our 4-part series, American in the Park at Gandara Park THIS SUNDAY 9/19!! @babathestoryteller and @masangamarimba will help us take #americanamusic back to its #roots as we begin our journey through the genre. We are bringing McCabe's to you with a McCabe's pop-up shop! Co-produced with the @art.samo this is a kid-friendly, fun for the whole family event with #foodtrucks! GANDARA PARK IS LOCATED ST 1819 STEWART STREET IN SUNNY SANTA MONICA #mccabesguitarshop #mccabesconcerts #artsamo #allamericana (at Santa Monica, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT8aZD5J_gE/?utm_medium=tumblr

I just finished shooting with @Blippi a holiday show highlighting #Kwanzaa. I had so much fun @StevinWJohn - Thank you for the love! #babathestoryteller (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT3W1MglVzi/?utm_medium=tumblr

It was an incredible evening last night @cityofparamount. #Dembrebrah West African Drum and Dance Family gathered to inspire another audience to explore the importance and significance of our collective cultural experiences. #babathestoryteller (at Paramount, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTIeDFehTdT/?utm_medium=tumblr

Right before the audience enters for an @lacountylibrary performance… https://www.instagram.com/p/CTHCZhKL-0w/?utm_medium=tumblr

I've had an awesome time touring libraries throughout @lacountylibrary system for the past few months. With only a couple of weeks left, I'd like to shout out an incredible human being, @lydafer for the painstaking, tedious, and mind-bending work done In the background to bring these tours to fruition for so many artists. (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSkFErYp4DT/?utm_medium=tumblr