Tales of Us: “The little Fish and the Crocodile” is a fable from the rainforest in the Odzala National Park in the Republic of Congo told by the children of the Sanza Mobimba Kindergarden. In cooperation with the SPAC foundation and their teaching methodology, Tales of Us has journeyed to the Congo several times over the last two years with an interdisciplinary team of teaching experts and creative professionals. Together we have worked with local teachers, developing children’s creativity and fostering a deep understanding of the joy essential to the art of storytelling. Encouraging local kids to draw from the elements of nature, they have created interesting characters with which to tell their stories.

Over the course of the workshops, the children progressed from initial character creation, to storytelling and development. All creative content, including art direction and stage design, has come from the children themselves. Adorned in costumes made from the natural elements of their home, the children are also the proud actors in their own adaptation of this traditional Congolese story.