Erwan Edlund (Literary Arts 2024) Wins First Place Youth Division in Liars Contest

Edlund is photographed with Vusumuzi Zulu (right), Festival Director, and other performers from the evening. Photo credit: Edie French of iDream.tv.

September 26, 2022

Erwan Edlund (Literary Arts 2024) won first place in the youth division of the Black Master Storytellers Festival Liars Contest on September 23, 2022. The contest took place at the Capri Theater and was part of the three-day festival. The opening ceremony for the festival took place at Perpich Center for Arts Education.

Reflecting on the award, Erwan shared, “To be honest it was really scary to be up there. I was shaking before it even started. It was very nerve racking, but I got through it! I practiced with my friends over and over again to make sure I was doing it right. I was the first one up there, and it felt even scarier! But I did it! I won! I was very happy with myself, and very proud to have the courage to be up there.”

The Black Storytellers Alliance’s 32nd annual Black Master Storytellers Festival in Minneapolis took place over three nights in late September. The festival showcased renowned Black storytellers Mama Koku, Joshua Cheo Gillespie (Asè), Charlotte Blake Alston, Mitch Gran’Daddy June Bug Capel, Dr. Amina Blackwood Meeks, Len Cabral, Dylan Pritchett, and Dr. Rita Cox. All events were free, family-friendly, and open to the public.