YOUSSEF THE STORYTELLER
Youssef the Storyteller
is one of Joe's alter egos. He made his debut in 2005 in New York City at an affair called “Festival of Dreams” Youssef is based on a compilation of characters including Nasruddin from Sufi folklore, Coyote of Nativist tradtion, and the wandering bard of Western European folklore. Youssef uses his stories as teaching devices. No culture is held above another, and he seeks to convey through his tales that all beings are capable of great highs and deep lows.Teacher, rogue, clown, wanderer – all that and more that is Youssef. His sources include world folklore, stories by well-known authors, and his own fertile imagination. He is particularly good with children. Youssef will be making his first Augusta appearance on Sunday, September 21, at Arts in the Heart at 1:00 pm - www.artsintheheart.com/. He will be performing Cat Tales, a presentation of "The Cats of Ulthar" by H. P. Lovecraft and "The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe. His next appearance will be Saturday, October 18, performing "Tales of Edgar Allan Poe" at the Friedman Library, 1447 Jackson Road at 2:00 pm, free.
Here is a short example of a Youssef story:
One day Youssef went to see a show at the theatre. As he entered, he gave the cashier a shekel."Youssef, the admission for adult is two shekels. You have given me the child's fee," said the cashier.
"Ah, but I am a child myself, and I will prove it to you," replied Youssef.
"Please do so, and if you do, you may enter freely,"
"Do we not all call God our father?"
"Yes, we do."
"Do we not all call the earth our mother.?"
"Yes, that is also true."
"So there are our parents, and to be a parent you must have a child. True?"
"Again, that is true."
"Now you know that I have lived to be fifty and one years. Fifty is but five plus zero, and five plus one is six. Now you know my parents, and my age is six. Therefore I have given you the right fee"
The cashier laughed and let Youssef enter.
Contact Youssef