The National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. (NABS) proudly presents the 44th Annual National Black Storytelling Festival & Conference, to be held in Warwick, Rhode Island. This year’s theme, Unbreakable Spirit: Telling Our Story, 250 Years and Beyond, honors the enduring strength, cultural richness, and intergenerational legacy of Black storytelling in America.

For over four decades, NABS has gathered tellers and listeners from across the African diaspora to celebrate our oral traditions through performance, fellowship, education, and community building. This year’s festival, co-hosted by Rhode Island Black Storytellers (RIBS), promises to be a powerful homecoming of voices, featuring dynamic storytelling concerts, workshops, youth programs, scholarly discussions, sacred rituals, and unforgettable cultural experiences.

Whether you are a seasoned griot, an emerging voice, or a devoted listener, you are invited to stand in the tradition and help carry the fire forward.