Today I told 80 3rd graders that I am a Princess. They lost it!! The #chills I had in June 2010 returned from the day I was in the #rainforest and was named #Boomerang translation #bekang #Black #Geniuses & #Inventors in #America : #georgewashingtoncarver and #friends with #anitawoodley #blackhistory #history #AIS #artscenter#carrboro #AIS #artsinschools #improvasation #greatgrandma#blackhistorymonth
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Friday, December 12, 2014
World Debut of "Boomerang" - A One-Women Show
Award-winning actress and playwright, Anita Woodley, presents her newest work "Boomerang", tracing her transformation as she struggles with racism and sexism in the workplace, discovers herself through DNA testing, and finds a new career in the arts.
In 2010, Anita reunited with the Tikar tribe in Cameroon, Africa, a meeting with her mother’s heritage. There, Anita became Princess Bekang, or “boomerang”, in the Chiefdom of the rainforest’s N'ditam Tikar Village. Following the performance, Anita Woodley is joined by Ancestry360 genealogist Demetrius Hunter and they share valuable tools to trace family history in the states and abroad.
At the World Debut of Boomerang on Sunday, December 7, 2014 at the Durham County Main Library in Durham, North Carolina, the performance was received with a standing ovation. The following is feedback from audience members:
- “Off the charts—brilliant!”
- “Loved it!”
- “Thank you, Anita Woodley, for Sunday's gift at the Durham Library. You truly gave us yourself - with openness and honesty and humor. Hallelujah! I am a 73-year-old white, southern Democrat, a person painfully aware that some of my ancestors may have owned some of yours.”
- “We need More performances programs like this one.”
- “Always enjoyable!”
- “Excellent, thanks you for having it.”
- “The best this year!”
- “Incredible!”
- “This was one of the best of all the programs you have had.”
- “This was terrific!”
Monday, November 19, 2012
We'll Return to the Bush
This morning, I decided to return to my Tikar Village of N'Ditam with my 14 year old son and husband in the next few years. I will organize this trip to the bush with Issa Nyaphanga, the Tikar brotha who I went to the bush with in June 2010. Over the years many people have emailed me saying they also want to return to the bush and I had mixed feelings about going back. I awoke this morning dreaming about the village at first it was violent in some ways and then their was a scarf placed on my neck that warmed me in the dream. I knew the violent start to the dream was my fear taking over and that it was popping up because I didn't bring up my desire to go to my hubby. For at least 2 weeks I'd been seriously, silently considering it. This morning I got an email from Issa saying that the folks in the village got the money I sent to them sent via a visiting pastor and that we should do a group email to those who want to go back to the Tikar Village in June 2013. It will be a week long trip of 7 and up to 10 days there int he village. I agree that a shorter trip will be more tolerable. When I asked my hubby this morning if he was ok with me going back, one day I will tell you the story about how I went originally and didn't get his feedback whatsoever, and to my surprise he was fine with it. He said, "You know he will want to go with you," He being our 10 year old son X-man. I'll talk to X-man about it this morning. For years he has wrote about visiting the bush, but says he may not want to go due to the multiple shots you need. I'll let you know how it goes.To follow our journey and those of the other African-American descendants Click Here
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
1-23-2011 Phone call to Tikar Family in Cameroun
I am speaking with Tousmi who's from my Tikar village in N'Ditam. Although I only know 51 Tikar words and a few in French we worked it out. The duration of the call was 20 minutes with mostly use repeating what we thought we heard LOL! It was well worth it ... ENJOY! Usoko Mah Jo Jo, Bekang!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
This Photo Just In!
Photos of me dancing with the Pygmy's during my naming ceremony on June 27, 2010!
I call this dance that I made up, "Capturing The Ancestor Ghost.:"
I was working moves you cannot learn in any African Dance class for real!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Listen to My Public Radio Interview - Traveling To N'Ditam [Aired 10.18.2010]
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Dancing with my 110-year old Tikar Elder
One of my favorite moments in my Tikar village located in N'Ditam was dancing with an 110-year-old elder in an outside hut. After we danced he sat down and told me of a time when he was 8, and white men came to our village to borrow workers. The chief agreed to let them go to earn money. The people of the village had no idea they'd never return. He told me that this happened many times before he was born and thought his years growing up.
He then told me words that will forever stay in my heart through translation, "You were stolen so do not feel bad about not being here. You were stolen from us and we are glad to have you back home. You are like a ghost that has finally come home. It has been so long."
It was at that moment that I had arrived Honey!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Monents After My Naming Ceremony
After My Naming Ceremony - The Chief named me Princess Bekang. Bekang means "Boomerang" to go and to come back. I became the first African-American since enslavement to return to the Tikar Village.When it becomes available I will post video of the ceremony that includes me dancing with the pygmy people in the courtyard.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
WELCOMING EMBRACE HOME
After I received my name I got one of the best hugs I've had in a long time. The last person that let me cry on their shirt was my Mama on her hospital bed.
 |
| More and more love than I could ever had expected poured in. IT FELT SO AWESOME TO BE ACCEPTED BY MY PEOPLE IN AFRICA. FORGET WHAT YOU HEARD ABOUT THEY DO NOT LIKE "AFRICAN-AMERICAN." |
An Essay - Anita's Eyewitness Account of Surgery in the Rainforest village N'Ditam of Cameroon
Shot, Edited and Produced by
Anita Woodley
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
University of Yaounde I Visit -- June 24, 2010
Traduction française ci-dessous
University of Yaounde I Visit -- June 24, 2010
by 'rie Shontel AKA Anita S. Woodley
On June 24, 2010, I was fortunate to be invited by Dr. Bole via certified letter to visit the University of Yaounde in Cameroon and teach improvisational techniques to theatre students. There were many students present and a few faculty members to witness my work.
In a brief presentation totaling 20 minutes, I told the students about my life as an African-American in the U.S. and I informed them of how I performed many shows to raise enough money to visit them in Africa. Part of that talk included information about my profession in the USA as a public radio producer and I answered questions from the audience about Americans impressions of African people.
To see the entire presentation go to these links:
Part 1 - Presention Univeristy of Yaounde
(Part Two)
Part 2 - Presention Univeristy of Yaounde
(Part Three)
Part 3 - Presention Univeristy of Yaounde
This was my first time leaving the United States. A few years ago our family traced our maternal DNA back to the Tikar Tribe in Cameroon. I must admit that I never imagined I'd be invited to Cameroon where I'd meet my tribe and teach the acting techniques I have learned through the years. I was very delighted about all the African males in higher education for in American we were not taught that Black men were intelligent and capable of magnificent things, especially higher education. Please note, that this was my experience in the impoverished East Oakland, California neighborhood that I grew up in. There are African-Americans who are taught otherwise and reach higher education. However, in my neigborhood I had never met any males who had this experience.
The students were very inquisitive and informed about their chosen educational fields. They were also very receptive to what I had to say and had a vibrant outlook on their futures. Since the presentation I have remained in contact with various student via social media. I have also made good on promises to assist students on their blogs and other artistic ventures.
While I prepared for the trip, many African-Americans I know expressed that they were nervous for me traveling to Africa "alone"." They wondered, "What if you are not accepted? And how about if they do not speak your language?" I was happy to report to them when I returned home that the students at the University were very accepting and we were able to have our conversations translated, so we understood one another well.
After my brief presentation we went to have lunch at a local eatery. When we returned to the University of Yaounde I, I taught a workshop on Improvisational Techniques. To begin the workshop I played theatre games to warm our bodies up for the workshop. We stretched and played a games called, "Zoom, zap" where students pointed their fingers at one another as quickly as they can without repeating the same phrase. We all laughed and hugged as this game was really hilarious. We also tried a game where we created a time machine with spooky scenes including zombies and more.
Next, I broke down my one-woman show "Mama Juggs: Three Generations Healing Negative Body Images" scene by scene and showed the students how I put it together. I started by walked around the classroom and asking each students name in my 100 year-old Great-Grandmother's character voice. Due to my luggage being lost at the airport, I was not able to use props and the students all commented that they were impressed that I could portray an100-years-old without props. I then looked outside the window and started improvising the actions of passersby and a vendor who was selling Orange phone credits. I even mimicked a women we saw while walking to lunch who was selling corn that she was roasting on a tire rim and fanning with a paper plate.
During the presentation of my Mama Juggs show, while I played my mother's character who died of Breast Cancer at 47 years old, one of the presentation goers cried and had to leave the room. Another attendee shared that a family member was ill and they wanted to do a show about them. I encouraged them and we exchanged information in hopes that we will share our work and I can assist them in some fashion in the future.
At the conclusion of my workshop, I shared a copy of more than 30 memorization techniques with the professor Emelda to Xerox for students and we took photos together. While taking the photos we all yelled the word "Grandma!" because they really loved my great-grandmaother's character. She would have been proud to know that her legacy lives on through them.
You can see us taking photos at these two links:
To conclude the trip, we went to Dr. Bole's Office and I informed him of how grateful I was for the opportunity to visit Cameroon under his invitation and the help of Dr. Martin. I also expressed a great desire to return someday and work with student through social media from the USA to talk about Theatre Arts.
The next leg of my trip took me to my family's village in N' ditiam. Information and guidance provided by Issa Nyaphaga and a private tour of artwork by the Tikar people facilitated by Dr. Martin Elouga helped make this trip one of a lifetime. The images below are from moments I shared with the people of Cameroon. I hope to visit in the future and present again to the students and my village.
You can see the report from my co-presentors Michel Paulie and Chanceline at this link http://sokolo.cronopios.org/yaounde_tikar1.php
**
Université de Yaoundé I Visite - 24 Juin, 2010
Le 24 Juin 2010, j'ai eu la chance d'être invité par le Dr Bole par lettre recommandée à visiter l'Université de Yaoundé au Cameroun et enseigner les techniques d'improvisation aux étudiants de théâtre. Il y avait beaucoup d'étudiants présents et quelques membres du corps professoral pour assister à mon travail.Dans une brève présentation totalisant 20 minutes, j'ai dit aux étudiants de ma vie comme un afro-américain aux États-Unis et je les ai informés de la façon dont j'ai joué de nombreux spectacles de soulever assez d'argent pour leur rendre visite en Afrique. Une partie de ce parler inclus des informations sur mon métier aux Etats-Unis en tant que producteur public de radio et j'ai répondu aux questions de l'auditoire sur les impressions des Américains de la population africaine.Pour voir toute la présentation aller à ces liens:(Première partie)(Deuxième partie)(Troisième partie)
Ce fut ma première fois de quitter les États-Unis. Il ya quelques années notre famille retracé notre ADN maternel retour à la tribu des Tikar du Cameroun.Je dois admettre que je n'ai jamais imaginé que je serais invité au Cameroun où je rencontrerais ma tribu et d'enseigner les techniques de jeu que j'ai appris au fil des ans. J'ai été très heureux de tous les hommes d'origine africaine dans l'enseignement supérieur à l'américaine nous n'avons pas appris que les hommes noirs étaient intelligents et capables de choses magnifiques, notamment l'enseignement supérieur. S'il vous plaît noter que ce fut mon expérience dans le pauvre Oakland Est, quartier de la Californie que j'ai grandi po Il ya les Afro-Américains qui sont enseignées autrement et parvenir à l'enseignement supérieur. Toutefois, à mon neigborhood je n'avais jamais rencontré aucun mâle qui a eu cette expérience.
Les élèves étaient très curieux et informés de leur choix domaines de l'éducation. Ils ont également été très réceptifs à ce que j'avais à dire et avait une vision dynamique de leur avenir. Depuis la présentation, je suis resté en contact avec des élèves différents via les réseaux sociaux. J'ai aussi fait les promesses d'aider les étudiants sur leurs blogs et d'autres projets artistiques.Alors que je me préparais pour le voyage, beaucoup d'Afro-Américains que je connais ont fait savoir qu'ils étaient nerveux pour moi de voyager à l'Afrique "seul". "Ils se demandent," Que faire si vous ne sont pas acceptés? Et que diriez-vous si elles ne parlent pas votre langue? "J'ai été heureux de leur rendre compte quand je suis rentré que les étudiants de l'Université ont été très ouverts et nous avons pu avoir nos conversations traduit, nous nous comprenions bien.
Après ma brève présentation, nous sommes allés déjeuner dans un restaurant local. Lorsque nous sommes retournés à l'Université de Yaoundé I, j'ai enseigné un atelier sur les techniques d'improvisation. Pour commencer l'atelier, j'ai joué à des jeux de théâtre pour réchauffer notre corps pour l'atelier. Nous étiré et a joué un jeux appelé, "Zoom, zap» où les étudiants ont pointé leurs doigts l'un l'autre aussi vite qu'ils le peuvent, sans répéter la même phrase. Nous avons tous ri et étreint que ce jeu était vraiment hilarant.Nous avons aussi essayé un jeu où nous avons créé une machine de temps avec des scènes fantasmagoriques y compris les zombies et plus.
Ensuite, j'ai craqué mon one-woman show "Mama Juggs: Trois générations de guérison images négatives du corps" scène par scène et a montré aux élèves comment je l'ai mis ensemble. J'ai commencé par le tour de la salle de classe et en demandant le nom de chaque élèves de mon 100 voix d'un personnage ans Grande-grand-mère. En raison de mes bagages sont perdus à l'aéroport, je n'ai pas été en mesure d'utiliser les accessoires et les étudiants ont tous souligné qu'ils ont été impressionnés que je pourrais présenter AN100-ans sans accessoires. J'ai alors regardé dehors de la fenêtre et a commencé à improviser les actions des passants et un vendeur qui a été la vente de crédits de téléphone Orange. J'ai même imité des femmes, nous avons vu lors de la marche à déjeuner qui a été la vente de maïs qu'elle faisait rôtir sur une jante et en l'éventant avec une assiette en carton.
Lors de la présentation de ma maman Juggs voir, pendant que je jouais caractère de ma mère qui est décédé du cancer du sein à 47 ans, l'un des amateurs de la présentation a pleuré et a dû quitter la salle. Un autre participant partagée qu'un membre de la famille était malade et qu'ils voulaient faire un spectacle à leur sujet. Je les ai encouragés et nous avons échangé des informations dans l'espoir que nous allons partager notre travail et je peux les aider en quelque sorte à l'avenir.
À la fin de mon atelier, j'ai partagé une copie de plus de 30 techniques de mémorisation avec le professeur Emelda à Xerox pour les étudiants et nous avons pris des photos ensemble. Tout en prenant les photos nous avons tous crié le mot «grand-mère!" parce qu'ils ont vraiment aimé le caractère de mon arrière-grand-grandmaother de. Elle aurait été fier de savoir que son héritage lui survivra à travers eux.
À la fin de mon atelier, j'ai partagé une copie de plus de 30 techniques de mémorisation avec le professeur Emelda à Xerox pour les étudiants et nous avons pris des photos ensemble. Tout en prenant les photos nous avons tous crié le mot «grand-mère!" parce qu'ils ont vraiment aimé le caractère de mon arrière-grand-grandmaother de. Elle aurait été fier de savoir que son héritage lui survivra à travers eux.
Traduction française ci-dessous
University of Yaounde I Visit -- June 24, 2010
by 'rie Shontel AKA Anita S. Woodley
On June 24, 2010, I was fortunate to be invited by Dr. Bole via certified letter to visit the University of Yaounde in Cameroon and teach improvisational techniques to theatre students. There were many students present and a few faculty members to witness my work.
In a brief presentation totaling 20 minutes, I told the students about my life as an African-American in the U.S. and I informed them of how I performed many shows to raise enough money to visit them in Africa. Part of that talk included information about my profession in the USA as a public radio producer and I answered questions from the audience about Americans impressions of African people.
To see the entire presentation go to these links:
(Part One)
(Part Two)
(Part Three)
This was my first time leaving the United States. A few years ago our family traced our maternal DNA back to the Tikar Tribe in Cameroon. I must admit that I never imagined I'd be invited to Cameroon where I'd meet my tribe and teach the acting techniques I have learned through the years. I was very delighted about all the African males in higher education for in American we were not taught that Black men were intelligent and capable of magnificent things, especially higher education. Please note, that this was my experience in the impoverished East Oakland, California neighborhood that I grew up in. There are African-Americans who are taught otherwise and reach higher education. However, in my neigborhood I had never met any males who had this experience.
The students were very inquisitive and informed about their chosen educational fields. They were also very receptive to what I had to say and had a vibrant outlook on their futures. Since the presentation I have remained in contact with various student via social media. I have also made good on promises to assist students on their blogs and other artistic ventures.
While I prepared for the trip, many African-Americans I know expressed that they were nervous for me traveling to Africa "alone"." They wondered, "What if you are not accepted? And how about if they do not speak your language?" I was happy to report to them when I returned home that the students at the University were very accepting and we were able to have our conversations translated, so we understood one another well.
After my brief presentation we went to have lunch at a local eatery. When we returned to the University of Yaounde I, I taught a workshop on Improvisational Techniques. To begin the workshop I played theatre games to warm our bodies up for the workshop. We stretched and played a games called, "Zoom, zap" where students pointed their fingers at one another as quickly as they can without repeating the same phrase. We all laughed and hugged as this game was really hilarious. We also tried a game where we created a time machine with spooky scenes including zombies and more.
Next, I broke down my one-woman show "Mama Juggs: Three Generations Healing Negative Body Images" scene by scene and showed the students how I put it together. I started by walked around the classroom and asking each students name in my 100 year-old Great-Grandmother's character voice. Due to my luggage being lost at the airport, I was not able to use props and the students all commented that they were impressed that I could portray an100-years-old without props. I then looked outside the window and started improvising the actions of passersby and a vendor who was selling Orange phone credits. I even mimicked a women we saw while walking to lunch who was selling corn that she was roasting on a tire rim and fanning with a paper plate.
During the presentation of my Mama Juggs show, while I played my mother's character who died of Breast Cancer at 47 years old, one of the presentation goers cried and had to leave the room. Another attendee shared that a family member was ill and they wanted to do a show about them. I encouraged them and we exchanged information in hopes that we will share our work and I can assist them in some fashion in the future.
At the conclusion of my workshop, I shared a copy of more than 30 memorization techniques with the professor Emelda to Xerox for students and we took photos together. While taking the photos we all yelled the word "Grandma!" because they really loved my great-grandmaother's character. She would have been proud to know that her legacy lives on through them.
You can see us taking photos at these two links:
To conclude the trip we went to Dr. Bole's Office and I informed him of how grateful I was for the opportunity to visit Cameroon under his invitation and the help of Dr. Martin. I also expressed a great desire to return someday and work with student through social media from the USA to talk about Theatre Arts.
The next leg of my trip took me to my family's village in N' ditiam. Information and guidance provided by Issa Nyaphanga and a private tour of artwork by the Tikar people facilitated by Dr. Martin helped make this trip one of a lifetime. The images below are from moments I shared with the people of Cameroon. I hope to visit in the future and present again to the students and my village.
You can see the report from my co-presentors Michel Paulie and Chanceline at this link http://sokolo.cronopios.org/yaounde_tikar1.php
**
Université de Yaoundé I Visite - 24 Juin, 2010
Le 24 Juin 2010, j'ai eu la chance d'être invité par le Dr Bole par lettre recommandée à visiter l'Université de Yaoundé au Cameroun et enseigner les techniques d'improvisation aux étudiants de théâtre. Il y avait beaucoup d'étudiants présents et quelques membres du corps professoral pour assister à mon travail.Dans une brève présentation totalisant 20 minutes, j'ai dit aux étudiants de ma vie comme un afro-américain aux États-Unis et je les ai informés de la façon dont j'ai joué de nombreux spectacles de soulever assez d'argent pour leur rendre visite en Afrique. Une partie de ce parler inclus des informations sur mon métier aux Etats-Unis en tant que producteur public de radio et j'ai répondu aux questions de l'auditoire sur les impressions des Américains de la population africaine.Pour voir toute la présentation aller à ces liens:(Première partie)(Deuxième partie)(Troisième partie)
Ce fut ma première fois de quitter les États-Unis. Il ya quelques années notre famille retracé notre ADN maternel retour à la tribu des Tikar du Cameroun.Je dois admettre que je n'ai jamais imaginé que je serais invité au Cameroun où je rencontrerais ma tribu et d'enseigner les techniques de jeu que j'ai appris au fil des ans. J'ai été très heureux de tous les hommes d'origine africaine dans l'enseignement supérieur à l'américaine nous n'avons pas appris que les hommes noirs étaient intelligents et capables de choses magnifiques, notamment l'enseignement supérieur. S'il vous plaît noter que ce fut mon expérience dans le pauvre Oakland Est, quartier de la Californie que j'ai grandi po Il ya les Afro-Américains qui sont enseignées autrement et parvenir à l'enseignement supérieur. Toutefois, à mon neigborhood je n'avais jamais rencontré aucun mâle qui a eu cette expérience.
Les élèves étaient très curieux et informés de leur choix domaines de l'éducation. Ils ont également été très réceptifs à ce que j'avais à dire et avait une vision dynamique de leur avenir. Depuis la présentation, je suis resté en contact avec des élèves différents via les réseaux sociaux. J'ai aussi fait les promesses d'aider les étudiants sur leurs blogs et d'autres projets artistiques.Alors que je me préparais pour le voyage, beaucoup d'Afro-Américains que je connais ont fait savoir qu'ils étaient nerveux pour moi de voyager à l'Afrique "seul". "Ils se demandent," Que faire si vous ne sont pas acceptés? Et que diriez-vous si elles ne parlent pas votre langue? "J'ai été heureux de leur rendre compte quand je suis rentré que les étudiants de l'Université ont été très ouverts et nous avons pu avoir nos conversations traduit, nous nous comprenions bien.
Après ma brève présentation, nous sommes allés déjeuner dans un restaurant local. Lorsque nous sommes retournés à l'Université de Yaoundé I, j'ai enseigné un atelier sur les techniques d'improvisation. Pour commencer l'atelier, j'ai joué à des jeux de théâtre pour réchauffer notre corps pour l'atelier. Nous étiré et a joué un jeux appelé, "Zoom, zap» où les étudiants ont pointé leurs doigts l'un l'autre aussi vite qu'ils le peuvent, sans répéter la même phrase. Nous avons tous ri et étreint que ce jeu était vraiment hilarant.Nous avons aussi essayé un jeu où nous avons créé une machine de temps avec des scènes fantasmagoriques y compris les zombies et plus.
Ensuite, j'ai craqué mon one-woman show "Mama Juggs: Trois générations de guérison images négatives du corps" scène par scène et a montré aux élèves comment je l'ai mis ensemble. J'ai commencé par le tour de la salle de classe et en demandant le nom de chaque élèves de mon 100 voix d'un personnage ans Grande-grand-mère. En raison de mes bagages sont perdus à l'aéroport, je n'ai pas été en mesure d'utiliser les accessoires et les étudiants ont tous souligné qu'ils ont été impressionnés que je pourrais présenter AN100-ans sans accessoires. J'ai alors regardé dehors de la fenêtre et a commencé à improviser les actions des passants et un vendeur qui a été la vente de crédits de téléphone Orange. J'ai même imité des femmes, nous avons vu lors de la marche à déjeuner qui a été la vente de maïs qu'elle faisait rôtir sur une jante et en l'éventant avec une assiette en carton.
Lors de la présentation de ma maman Juggs voir, pendant que je jouais caractère de ma mère qui est décédé du cancer du sein à 47 ans, l'un des amateurs de la présentation a pleuré et a dû quitter la salle. Un autre participant partagée qu'un membre de la famille était malade et qu'ils voulaient faire un spectacle à leur sujet. Je les ai encouragés et nous avons échangé des informations dans l'espoir que nous allons partager notre travail et je peux les aider en quelque sorte à l'avenir.
À la fin de mon atelier, j'ai partagé une copie de plus de 30 techniques de mémorisation avec le professeur Emelda à Xerox pour les étudiants et nous avons pris des photos ensemble. Tout en prenant les photos nous avons tous crié le mot «grand-mère!" parce qu'ils ont vraiment aimé le caractère de mon arrière-grand-grandmaother de. Elle aurait été fier de savoir que son héritage lui survivra à travers eux.
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