Charles "Wsir" Johnson has an infectious excitment about the blues and education. As a Storyteller, musician and cultural Historian he gives the roots of the blues in a way kids leave wanting more. They want to READ, and CREATE!! One of his interest is his "Africa and the Blues" education performance/lecture series. Performing and lecturing with instruments he has made himself from the West African Akonting, Ngoni, Gamelan Ngoni, Banjo, Didley-Bo, cigar box guitars to slide guitar and percussion drums. (You can see these by hitting Gourd, Wood and others) He weaves a story custom made for each region, or venue. He has performed and lectured (Africa and the Blues) at the first Youth Blues summer Camp at Tougaloo Cllege in Mississippi. Performed with nationaly known storyteller Diane Williams on a series of Africa to America performances/lectures. Guest Panelist at the Living Blues Symposium, "Africa and the Blues", with Davis Evans, Corey Harris and World known blues and African authority Paul Oliver. Performed Africa to America Blues at the North Carolina History Museum, to a series of Africa to the Blues lecture/demostrations at the Delta Blues Museum and performing as the Afro-Blues Griots at the Sunflower Blues Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. In 2008 Johnson was afforded the humbled experience of playing the banjo and the akonting in a musical presention, "Bluegrass. Brown Earth" by internationally known director of the African-American Dance Ensemble BaBa Chuck Davis. Two of Johnsons instruments were used in the play that highlighted the importance and influence of the African string instrument (Akonting) and the Banjo (see gourd instruments) in Americana music. Part of the Blues in the Schools Program for the Bull Durham Blues Festival in Durham North Carolina Johnson guided youth in making over 60 didley bo. The same with the Blues summer camp in MS as well. In 2008 Chicago blues enthusiast was invited to make over 80 diddley bo's at the Chicago Blues Festival , in North Carolina they might called it a "One String". Johnson directed and produced a film called "Blue Suede Shoes in the Hood", which documents the community in Tupelo Mississippi where the young Elvis Presley (at 13) heard Blues and Holines music in the African-American tradition. It was was shown at the "Living Blues Symposium and won "Best Documentary" and won "Best" Film at the Biloxi Film Festival. Dr. Edgar Smith and Dr. Brown professors and Charles "Wsir" Johnson at Tougaloo College in Jackson Mississippi, after Johnson did a lecture/ demostration African Kora, Banjo, Balon and slide guitar) regarding "African Roots of the Blues, in a inovative new curriculum Blues class. Charles "Wsir" Johnson programs have been nothing but exciting and educational for youth of all ages and community Blues outreach programs. |