The Art Of Storytelling

Master storyteller and award-winning author Won-Ldy Paye recently visited Fraser-Woods Montessori School as part of its ongoing cultural program, “Folktales, Myths and Legends.”

Mr Paye hails from Tapita, the northeastern region of Liberia, West Africa. Trained by his grandmother, Gowo, to retain and share the stories of his native Dan people, Mr Paye is now a member of Tlo Ker Mehn, the class of professional Dan entertainers who are keepers of the oral tradition.

As a child, Mr Paye learned many artistic skills including drumming, instrument making, dancing, woodcarving, mask making, fabric dyeing and mural painting. All are traditional arts intrinsic to the Dan.

Mr Paye also told his audience, which ranged in age from toddlers to eighth grader students, adventures growing up in a tropical environment, as well as details about the animals and places of Liberia.

D’Addario Industries and the Connecticut Commission on Arts sponsored his visit.