American Griot

ORIGINAL PLAY BY REGINALD EDMUND AND RONNIE MALLEY

American Griot is an original play exploring the often overlooked history of early African Muslims forced into American slavery and the influence they had on what would become the American music genre known as the blues. Told through the lens of Mamadou, an 18th century griot (African storyteller musician), the audience is taken on a musical journey to the crossroads of Africa and America revealing the shared history of Islam and the blues on both continents. The 2019 world premiere  is produced by Moraine Valley Community College through Silk Road Rising Theatre with generous support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and APAP Association of Performing Arts Professionals.

Moraine Valley Community College Academic Theater’s upcoming 2018-19 season includes the world premiere of “American Griot” by former Moraine Valley student Ronnie Malley, and Reginald Edmund, Feb. 21-March 3 at John and Angeline Oremus Theater as part of the Mosaics: Muslim Voices in America project.

More info about the 2019 premier can be found here on our events page.