Story by Story: Queen Nur

Join PSPL for Story by Story, a monthly series for adults and teens, where storytellers from around the country share stories reflecting diverse cultures, beliefs, and experiences. Performances run 45-60 minutes, followed by an up-to 30 minute discussion opportunity. An American Sign Language interpreter will be provided for all events.

Engaging audiences with call and response and song, Queen Nur presents rooted stories of connections to her childhood, tales honoring ancestors from the African continent to familiar Black traditions in America, a personal rendering celebrating her father, and humorous folktales. Stories are accompanied by international drummer and percussionist Dwight James on a variety of percussive instruments.

Queen Nur is a highly interactive international storyteller, folklorist, and award-winning teaching artist from Willingboro, New Jersey. Following the griotic tradition, her stories capture historical victories, celebrate folkloric traditions, and profoundly speak to the quintessence of humanity. For 30 years, she has toured in over 36 states, West Africa, and Canada at such events/venues as the opening of the Smithsonian's National African American Museum of Culture and History; a tour of Cameroon for the US Embassy, PANAFEST in Ghana; Equitable Tower Theater on Broadway; NJN Television; Toronto Street Festival; National Storytelling Festival; Dodge Poetry Festival; and many more. Queen was the Master of Ceremonies at the NEA 2019 National Heritage Fellows Concert in Washington, D.C. She has also performed as a featured artist at the National Association of Black Storytellers Festival and Conference and is a past president (14^th) of the organization. She is the recipient of the 2023 New Jersey Heritage Fellowship, 2020 Zora Neale Hurston Award from the National Association of Black Storytellers, 2018 Governor's Award in Arts Education, and the 2018 Artist of the Year for Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Queen is also featured in Legendary Locals of Willingboro by Josh Bernstein, O Magazine (February 2018), and several anthologies.