Kenyan storyteller Anna Mwalagho will lead interactive stories about the animal kingdom of “Artful Animals” with songs, tales, and call and response to actively involve even the youngest imagination… The performance will be followed by a visit to the gallery to experience this special exhibit, created just for children and their adults from the collections of magnificent art and objects of the continent of Africa.

Artful Animals Activity Guide

A Closer Look - About the Artist

Born and raised in Kenya, East Africa, Anna Mwalagho began performing professionally at the age of 8. She is an internationally recognized actress, poet, dance, singer/songwriter and storyteller. Internationally recognized as the “Queen of spoken Afro beat” she has captivated audiences with her unique blend of talents.  Her philosophy is simple; “Dance, sing, laugh and truly love, as this is the joy of life.”  Her debut CD, “Ukweli: The Truth,” a collection of spoken word/poetry accompanied with Afro beat music is a vibrant celebration of her vision.

Anna’s words on traditional stories and children: “Storytellers pass along tales orally, embodying ideas about ethic, human nature and the cultures from which they come. These stories are what are termed “folktales.”  These tales educate the audience about different cultures and ethnic groups, teach important rituals and events or values in the community and entertain both young and old.”

This project has been supported by the Smithsonian School Programming Fund.

Click here to read more information about the Artful Animals partnership and see a list of other programs.

About Meet the Museum
These programs are specially designed by Discovery Theater and the education departments of the nation's top museums to engage young people during their visits to the Smithsonian and foster scholarship - and fun!  Each program introduces themes and topics in a 20-30 minute Discovery Theater performance in a theater or space within a museum. The main event is the gallery visit to see objects, artifacts, or artwork on that theme; all in a one hour format (more time in the galleries is always an option).