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Baba Abiodun (Phillip J. Harris) Click on Brief YouTube Video Below
In Loving Memory of our great friend
and Legendary Elder
Baba Abiodun (Phillip J. Harris) has been traveling with us (Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble) performing his wonderful storytelling since 2005. We honor, enjoy and respect him as an elder and a very good friend. Read below his brief biography.
Abiodun, also known as Phillip Harris, Bachelor of Sicience Degree in Elementary Education is a professional teacher and storyteller. He has been telling stories since his childhood days. The neighborhood children on Kimball Street in South Philadelphia were his first audiences. Through this art of Storytelling Abiodun captures children's imagination with a sound repertoire of animal, folk, family and community tales. Each one of his stories contains anecdotes that teaches the listener positive life values. Abiodun has traveled the world especially in AFRICA, mastering storytelling. In addition, Abiodun is an experienced visual artist who has discovered a way to use multi media (film, photography, found objects, colors and paint) to creatively give expression to one's inner self while interpreting the dynamic continuity life's ever-evolving interrelated events. Abiodun, in 1980, produced one of the first major documentaries on Kwanzaa, which today stands as a classic, receiving an award from the American film Festival in 1983. Abiodun was born on the third day of Kwanzaa (Ujima / Collective Work and Responsibility) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public school system. After graduation, he joined the Air Force. Completing his tour, he later attended Community College of Philadelphia, Tyler School of Art and has earned a B.S. Degree in elementary education from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Abiodun is a long time member of the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS) and NABS Philadelphia Affiliate, Keepers of the Culture. He was director of the Germantown People's Festival - Vernon Park; chaired the Kwanzaa Planning Committee / 1971-1974; created and organized Cultural Arts Conference - Pickett Middle School; led African Art Workshops; and served as Vice President Home and School Association, Martin Luther King Jr. High School and developed a Creative Expressions Curriculum at the Germantown Area School Project (GASP) Vernon House, Vernon Park. Abiodun has traveled to Africa and the Caribbean on several occasions and has participated in many Storytelling Festivals and Conferences, performed at numerous schools in the Philadelphia area, New Jersey, Providence, Rhode Island, New Orleans, etc. His many performance venues include acting in a Freedom Theatre production, Philadelphia children and adult parties, and office celebrations.
Includes Dr. Maulana Karenga, creator
of Kwanzaa CLICK ON
PHOTO BELOW FOR BRIEF BIO OF |
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