6 episodes

When young Black teen, Nani, discovers she holds a gift that connects her to a long line of storytellers descended from her enslaved ancestors, she must quickly adjust to her new position in order to find a cure to an unknown illness rapidly spreading through the Black community. But with time not in her favor, can she rally enough support among new friends to save her family? And her people?

Rise of the American Griots Tijara Smith

    • Fiction
    • 5.0 • 2 Ratings

When young Black teen, Nani, discovers she holds a gift that connects her to a long line of storytellers descended from her enslaved ancestors, she must quickly adjust to her new position in order to find a cure to an unknown illness rapidly spreading through the Black community. But with time not in her favor, can she rally enough support among new friends to save her family? And her people?

    Tape Six

    Tape Six

    Nani comes face to face with her fate. Can she handle it?

    ------------

    Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to this production!

    CAST:

    McKenzie Franklin as Nani

    Joshua Curry as Charlie

    Jada M. Darden as Tayla

    Jordan Loman as Nazim

    Michael Cortez as Eric

    Yani Barrow as Dia

    James Bond as Elijah

    Samantha Haughawout as Syn

    Annaya Barnes as Angry Spirit

    SPECIAL THANKS:

    Nyla Smith (Singer/Songwriter)

    Dr. Deanna Koretsky

    The Annotated African American Folktales by Henry Louis Gates and Maria Tatar

    Spelman College English Department

    Spelman College Tech Department

    Royalty Free Sounds

    • 8 min
    Tape Five

    Tape Five

    Amidst doubt cast upon her by her family, Nani meets a familiar friend.  

    ------------

    Thank you so much to everyone that has contributed to this production!

    CAST:

    McKenzie Franklin as Nani

    Joshua Curry as Charlie

    Jada M. Darden as Tayla

    Jordan Loman as Nazim

    Michael Cortez as Eric

    Yani Barrow as Dia

    James Bond as Elijah

    Samantha Haughawout as Syn

    Annaya Barnes as Angry Spirit

    SPECIAL THANKS:

    Nyla Smith (Singer/Songwriter)

    Dr. Deanna Koretsky

    The Annotated African American Folktales by Henry Louis Gates and Maria Tatar

    Spelman College English Department

    Spelman College Tech Department

    Royalty Free Sounds

    • 10 min
    Tape Four

    Tape Four

    Nani learns more about who, and what, she is. 

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    .

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    Thank you so much to everyone that has contributed to this production!

    CAST:

    McKenzie Franklin as Nani

    Joshua Curry as Charlie

    Jada M. Darden as Tayla

    Jordan Loman as Nazim

    Michael Cortez as Eric

    Yani Barrow as Dia

    James Bond as Elijah

    Samantha Haughawout as Syn

    Annaya Barnes as Angry Spirit

    SPECIAL THANKS:

    Nyla Smith (Singer/Songwriter)

    Dr. Deanna Koretsky

    The Annotated African American Folktales by Henry Louis Gates and Maria Tatar

    Spelman College English Department

    Spelman College Tech Department

    Royalty Free Sounds

    • 10 min
    Tape Three

    Tape Three

    Nani plays catch up with her African American folklore knowledge.



    Thank you so much to everyone that has contributed to this production!

    CAST:

    McKenzie Franklin as Nani

    Joshua Curry as Charlie

    Jada M. Darden as Tayla

    Jordan Loman as Nazim

    Michael Cortez as Eric

    Yani Barrow as Dia

    James Bond as Elijah

    Samantha Haughawout as Syn

    Annaya Barnes as Angry Spirit

    SPECIAL THANKS:

    Nyla Smith (Singer/Songwriter)

    Dr. Deanna Koretsky

    The Annotated African American Folktales by Henry Louis Gates and Maria Tatar

    Spelman College English Department

    Spelman College Tech Department

    Royalty Free Sounds

    • 10 min
    Tape Two

    Tape Two

    Nani decides whether or not to fulfill the role destined for her.



    Thank you so much to everyone that has contributed to this production!

    CAST:

    McKenzie Franklin as Nani

    Joshua Curry as Charlie

    Jada M. Darden as Tayla

    Jordan Loman as Nazim

    Michael Cortez as Eric

    Yani Barrow as Dia

    James Bond as Elijah

    Samantha Haughawout as Syn

    Annaya Barnes as Angry Spirit



    SPECIAL THANKS:

    Nyla Smith (Singer/Songwriter)

    Dr. Deanna Koretsky

    The Annotated African American Folktales by Henry Louis Gates and Maria Tatar

    Spelman College English Department

    Spelman College Tech Department

    Royalty Free Sounds

    • 9 min
    Tape One

    Tape One

    Nani uncovers a long-kept family secret.



    Thank you so much to everyone that has contributed to this production!

    CAST:

    McKenzie Franklin as Nani

    Joshua Curry as Charlie

    Jada M. Darden as Tayla

    Jordan Loman as Nazim

    Michael Cortez as Eric

    Yani Barrow as Dia

    James Bond as Elijah

    Samantha Haughawout as Syn

    Annaya Barnes as Angry Spirit



    SPECIAL THANKS:

    Dr. Deanna Koretsky 

    The Annotated African American Folktales by Henry Louis Gates and Maria Tatar

    Spelman College English Department

    Spelman College Tech Department

    • 12 min

Customer Reviews

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