An Interview W/ a Theatre Maker- Shariffa Ali

As a young child I would gaze in awe of my grandmother and the village elders of the rich fertile farmlands of Nandi Hills, Kenya as they spun stories of the great legends and fools of our tribe. While I understood little of their tales and the language they spoke, Kalenjin, I was utterly consumed by the musicality of their voices with its sudden peaks and drops in volume, their bold majestic gestures and expressive faces dimly light by the coal fire that was set beside them. I did not know that in observing these stories a seed had been planted inside me. A love of storytelling; the very root of theater and performance began to take form. This seed would continue to grow and blossom in my years while being nurtured by my mother Rose Ali, teachers, mentors and many others that I have encountered throughout my life… Read more here: http://www.shariffa.com/about Follow her on social media: https://www.instagram.com/chocolate_t… https://www.facebook.com/101536337759… To find out more about the Hermitage click here: https://hermitageartistretreat.org/