At this year’s e-Learning Africa conference in Dakar (27th-29th May 2009) we are convening a workshop that explores the interface between story-telling and ICT4D. One of the outputs will be a digital ‘place’ where people can contribute their stories, and thereby use ICTs to support traditional African oral and story-telling traditions.
In this connection, it is salient to note that 20th March 2009 is World Story Telling Day – “a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn equinox in the southern. On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night. Participants tell each other about their events in order to share stories and inspiration, to learn from each other and create international contacts.”
“World Storytelling Day has its roots in a national day for storytelling in Sweden, circa 1991-2. At that time, an event was organized for March 20 in Sweden called “Alla berattares dag” (All storytellers day). The Swedish national storytelling network passed out some time after, but the day stayed alive, celebrated around the country by different enthusiasts. In 1997, storytellers in Perth, Western Australia coordinated a five-week long Celebration of Story, commemorating March 20 as the International Day of Oral Narrators. At the same time, in Mexico and other South American countries, March 20 was already celebrated as the National Day of Storytellers”.
Perhaps those who would like to tell a story related to ICT4D might like to post a comment below on March 20th!
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