Storytelling is a practice found in all cultures since the dawn of humanity. Through this medium, societies not only communicate, educate and entertain, but also preserve values, knowledge, and collective memory. While it may seem simple, storytelling is a complex art that has evolved over time, adapting to changing contexts and contemporary challenges.
With the aim of exploring these transformations and strengthening narrative skills, we launched the series INVISIBLE STORIES MADE VISIBLE. STORYTELLING IN AFRICA at the beginning of 2025. This space brings together artists, academics and communities to share experiences, techniques, and perspectives on the craft of storytelling. The initiative seeks to connect narrative practices with processes such as participatory evaluation and knowledge communication.
In this chapter of the series, entitled “Beyond Fairy Tales, People’s Stories“, we meet Sally Nyolo – an internationally acclaimed Cameroonian singer, author, composer, producer, actress, and advocate for women’s rights. She has inspired and mentored many artists around the world.
Since 2016, she has served as a UNICEF ambassador and has been actively involved in the fight against child marriage. Born in the Lekie region of Cameroon, she moved to Europe at the age of 12. Sally explores the therapeutic power of African traditions in healing and cultural preservation. Her work highlights the use of music as therapy, drawing inspiration from traditional rituals such as the calabash ceremony. She emphasises the promotion of positive global representations of African women through music and storytelling. You can find out more about Sally at this link.
The storytelling approach we promote integrates both local and global dimensions, as well as artistic and scientific aspects. It is a participatory and context-based practice for producing, interpreting, and sharing knowledge, with strong potential for application in evaluation processes and social change.
Interview script and content selection: Esteban Tapella / Direction, editing and musicalization: Ana Clara Bustelo / Translation and subtitles in English and French: Ongolo Miriam Merveille and Nange Lisette
