At nightfall a long time ago, children would rush to the fire to enjoy its warmth and light. Each picking a comfortable spot, they would wait to be regaled with riveting folklore and anecdotes.
The storyteller would almost certainly be an elderly person with consumate narrative skills and rich in life experience. The audience would sit with rapt attention, occasionally breaking into spontaneous belly laughter.
The stories would evoke a range of emotions, from sheer bliss to palpable sadness, and they were important platforms to convey moral or social messages, especially to the youngsters. But that was then.
Today television has usurped the role of the master storyteller. ÂÂConsequently, some people question the relevance of this ancient art form. Is there a future for storytelling? What role does storytelling have in our rapidly modernising and technology-driven society?
For storyteller Nomsa Mdlalose it has as much a place in modern society as it had in days gone by. ”Storytelling is here to stay. In fact, its future is bright. I do not believe in this notion that there is such a thing as an old story. Stories, even if from a long time ago, can still be told in a manner that relates to the current situation,” she says.
Mdlalose did not become a storyteller by accident. Her father always had a story to share. They would be about simple, mundane issues, or serious, educational and traditional tales. Her early exposure launched Mdlalose into the world of the arts as she went on to explore other forms such as dance, singing and performance.
Mdlalose developed into a well-rounded artist, with storytelling ranking high on her list of hobbies. That changed when she opened a storytelling academy, Kwesukela, in Joburg. She also obtained a master’s degree in storytelling from the East Tennessee State University in the United States.
the Teacher caught up with her at her version of today’s ”fireside”, the Wits’ Writing Centre, which she heads.
”Storytelling is one way in which people find meaning about who they are and where they come from. Stories carry with them wisdom and knowledge,” says Mdlalose.
”When I decided to do storytelling up to this level, it was because I realised and appreciated the power of words. Storytelling helped to develop my sense of self-worth and respect, and there is an element of sincerity in telling a story.”
Mdlalose says storytelling is an effective teaching tool that can be used across the curriculum. For example, at a workshop for medical students recently, she advised the future doctors to appreciate the value of listening to the stories told by their patients. ”It helps the patients to heal, for they can let off their emotional steam and feel relieved,” she told them.
Mdlalose strongly believes the world can benefit immensely from storytelling, because it can help to unravel the many problems and challenges we face. ”It can be used as a communication vehicle through which people can resolve their differences in a more mature and less confrontational manner,” she says.
”People have a narrow view of storytelling and they think it is dying. The truth of the matter is that it is growing and is in great demand in this country and on the continent.” Mdlalose says the enthusiastic audiences she encounters at weekly performances is a sign of its popularity.
Gcina Mhlope, whose name is synonymous with this art form and who also underlined the importance of storytelling, was Mdlalose’s mentor and inspiration. Mhlope believes every one of us is a storyteller.
”Every Monday people share stories at work about what happened yesterday and they talk about accidents or weddings that took place over the weekend. And that is the essence of storytelling. Stories are all around,” she says.
So what makes a good story and what are the techniques one can use to tell a good tale?
”A good story is one that you feel passionate about. You must be convinced that your story is worth telling,” says Mhlope.
Mdlalose adds: ”You must be able to grab your audience’s attention and this can be achieved through the mastery of the language you use, creative use of facial expression, voice intonation, singing and dancing.”
Smal Ndaba is a seasoned arts practitioner and co-founder of Sibikwa Theatre Company in Ekurhuleni, where he has been doing his bit for seven years.
The centre holds storytelling festivals every year, during which learners and teachers from surrounding schools attend storytelling workshops conducted by seasoned storytellers, and write and share their stories. The festival is used to unearth and nurture new talent, Ndaba says.
”We value storytelling because today’s kids rely on television as a source of information and get misled in the process,” he says.
He believes it is not surprising that youths nowadays get themselves in all sorts of sticky situations.
”In the past our ancestors used to tell us stories that moulded us to be respectful and responsible people. The stories were not just for purposes of entertainment, but also to help guide and teach us good social and moral values.”
Ndaba is optimistic about the festival and what it means for storytelling. ”Every year we attract an overwhelming number of entries from the school children. We are encouraged by their level of enthusiasm as well as their creativity,” he says, adding that they aim to compile and publish all the submitted stories.
One of the highlights of this year’s festival was a drama titled House of Zombies, which explored the theme of storytelling. Clara Vaughan, director of the play, says the drama explored the life of Tsonga sculptor Phillip Rikhotso. His sculptures are inspired by stories told by ancestors through her daughter, Alice.
Rikhotso symbolises the preservation of his people’s oral tradition, but because of the complexity and mystique surrounding his work, he is viewed negatively and accused of practicing witchcraft, says Vaughan. She explains that, although the play is set in the past, it tackles current issues.
The large number of learners who came to watch the play bears testimony to this. ”It was good but scary at the same time. But I enjoyed it,” said one ecstatic learner as she left the theatre – proof that stories can be a means of speaking to learners about matters affecting their lives.
As Mdlalose says: ”Storytelling has a role in every aspect of our lives and goes beyond entertainment. It encourages group interaction, conflict resolution and the learning of different languages. Storytelling can transform a lecture or class (room) into a multicultural space, where voices and imagination weave together.”