Following on from my recent reflections on the last 18 months of Heads & Tails: A Southern African Storytelling Spectacle (CLICK HERE TO READ), I felt it was the perfect time to share an exciting new milestone.
When I first began working as a storyteller in 2017, my Southern African heritage was at the heart of my repertoire. I held a dream that one day I would sit beneath an Acacia tree (or even better, a Baobab tree) in Southern Africa, sharing stories with the local community. That dream continues to inspire me today.
Proud to be supporting Transfrontier Africa
In the past few weeks, I announced that the Heads & Tails project will now be supporting the incredible work of Transfrontier Africa, who became very well known for implementing the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit The Black Mambas.
After several online meetings recently, with the Transfrontier Africa team, that being the MD Craig Spencer and the Bush Babies manager, Lewyn Maefala, we are thrilled to be specifically supporting another vital Transfrontier Africa programme called The Bush Babies Environmental Education Programme, which brings conservation education to thousands of school children. You can follow The Bush Babies on Facebook.
If you’re unfamiliar, Bush Babies (officially called Galagos) are small nocturnal primates with large, expressive eyes designed for night vision. While irresistibly appealing, they are sadly at risk of being caught up in the illegal pet trade, which is one of the many challenges linked to poaching.
The Bush Babies programme, which reaches 11 schools and more than 2,000 children. With classes as large as 100 students per teacher and few resources such as technology or even consistent electricity, this programme is making a significant difference, not only for the education of the children in the community but for the environment too. .
Taking ‘Heads & Tails’ further
Our vision now is to take Heads & Tails into as many schools, libraries, community venues, and festivals across the UK as possible — with October, Black History Month, as a key moment to showcase the power of storytelling.
Over the last 18 months, John Kirk and I have performed Heads & Tails for schools, libraries, community events, and festivals, and the feedback has been overwhelming. Audiences of all ages have embraced the stories, the interaction, and the messages of resilience, ecology, and community. This encouragement has inspired us to keep developing the show and the workshop elements and sharing it more widely.
Get involved
I would love to connect with schools, libraries, community venues, and even companies interested in hosting Heads & Tails during Black History Month 2025 — either live or virtually.
If you’d like to book a performance, or if your company would be open to sponsoring a visit to a school of your choice then please contact me using the button below.
As the cliched saying goes ‘Sharing is Caring’ so please do share this with as many of your family and friends as possible.
Thank you for taking the time in reading this blog and any support you are able to offer.