FUNDA (To Learn) – Funda is a Zulu word, spoken by the people in South Africa. Long before there were books, the elders and griots and jaliyas—the storytellers-  were the keepers of the culture. They passed on stories and songs so the community would learn its history, values, and traditions, in the oral tradition. That’s what we offer here:  a place to learn.  Not only that, it looks like FUN!

FUNDA FEST includes 7 public performances statewide in partnership with local organizations in each city or town, reaching an additional 600 people. Over the years RIBS has reached over 120,000 people. RIBS is committed to presenting international, national, regional, and local artists at various career stages and to represent the diversity of Black storytelling.

FUNDA FEST 24 will showcase over 25 performers from around the world, featuring Maria Broom, Derek Burrows, and others!

For more information and to snag the Early Bird special ending November 30th, please click here.

RI Black Storytellers provides many free programs and activities as well as some that have a fee. RI Black Storytellers is supported in part by a RI Culture, Humanities and Arts Recovery Grant (RICHARG). This funding has been provided to the Humanities Council by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and to RISCA by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act.