Black Storytellers Gather in Rhode Island
The 44th National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference returned to Rhode Island for the first time in 23 years.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in African-American
The National Association of Black Storytellers held its 44th Annual National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference in Warwick, Rhode Island, this week. Rhode Island Black Storytellers co-hosted the event, which was themed "Unbreakable Spirit: Telling Our Story, 250 Years and Beyond."
Why it matters
The conference brings a national gathering of Black storytelling to the Warwick area and highlights the role of oral tradition in preserving cultural history. Its return to the state after 23 years offers local audiences direct access to the festival's performances and programming.
This was the 44th annual edition of the festival, and its last Rhode Island appearance was 23 years ago. The conference featured performances, workshops, and youth programming, though total attendance was not reported.
The players
National Association of Black Storytellers
A national organization founded to promote and preserve the African American oral storytelling tradition through festivals, workshops, and educational programming.
Rhode Island Black Storytellers
A Rhode Island-based group that works to preserve and share Black oral storytelling traditions within the state.
The details
Storytellers gathered in Warwick for performances, workshops, and youth programming organized around the "Unbreakable Spirit" theme. The conference wrapped up this week in Rhode Island.
Timeline
• November 8, 2026: The conference concluded in Warwick, Rhode Island.
Season Trajectory
The 44th edition of the National Black Storytelling Festival continues an annual series that has run for over four decades. Its return to Rhode Island after 23 years extends the festival's reach into a region it has not visited in more than two decades.
Warwick residents can attend the festival's public performances and youth programming in future years when the event is held nearby. The conference offers a direct chance to experience Black oral storytelling traditions in person.
The takeaway
Community storytelling events like this one preserve oral histories that might otherwise go unrecorded. Residents interested in these traditions can seek out local storytelling groups and youth programs.
Further reading
Explore more African-American culture coverage for context on traditions like Black oral storytelling.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WJAR.
