Thirty years ago, Obakunle Akinlana was looking for a way to entertain 300 kids who visited a humanities center where he worked in Florida.

He started telling the story of why monkeys live in trees, and the children loved it.

Today, Akinlana is a professional storyteller, and that story is one of his most requested tales. He said he might share the story tonight during a performance at the Braswell Memorial Library.

Akinlana, who is from Atlanta, will perform African music and folktales from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The free event, sponsored by the library and the Nash Arts Council, is among several upcoming Black History Month celebrations.

Akinlana travels to Africa each year to study culture and learn from local musicians and storytellers. He uses music and artifacts to teach his audiences about African history and culture.

“There are similarities in all cultures,” Akinlana said. “If we build on those similarities, then we can overcome all differences.”

Tonight’s event is designed to inform and entertain people of just about all ages, said Linda Bunch, children supervisor at Braswell Memorial.

“It’s going to be a great program,” Bunch said. “We’d love to have everybody come out and take advantage of it.”

Akinlana has studied Yoruba folklore, which are folktales told in the Southwestern Nigerian tradition, for close to 30 years. He said he typically travels to Nigeria once or twice a year.

When he performs, Akinlana involves his audience in the program. Guests have an opportunity to learn about African songs and dances, to see artifacts and to learn about things produced in Africa that they might use in their daily lives, such as cocoa. 
“We just have a great time sharing cultures,” Akinlana said.

His program is one of several events this month designed to highlight black history.

The Rocky Mount Deliverance Center, 1329 Dogwood Ave., will host a program at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Also on Saturday, the public is invited to attend the 2012 International Festival of Cultures. The festival is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. in the Brown Auditorium at Nash Community College.

The free event is sponsored by the city of Rocky Mount’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commission and Nash Community College.

Exhibitors will represent a variety of countries and continents, including Africa, Costa Rica, Malaysia, India, Mexico, Peru and Japan.

Representatives from each country will have a booth to highlight their culture. The festival will include food samples, arts, crafts, traditional clothing and more.

Guests also will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of cultural entertainment, including step teams and Palestinian dancers, said Archie Jones, human relations director for the city of Rocky Mount.

Jones said the festival is a great opportunity for families to travel the world without leaving Rocky Mount. An average of 800 to 1,000 people typically attend the annual event, Jones said.

On Sunday, Mount Pisgah Presbyterian Church, 614 Goldleaf Street, is holding a Black History Month program. The event starts at 4 p.m., and it likely will last about an hour, said Helen Gay, moderator for the church’s Presbyterian Women group that’s organizing the event.

The program will include musical performances, a skit, talks about history and more. Guests will be invited to join in the singing of “We Shall Overcome” and other inspirational songs. After, organizers will serve food.

“We just want everybody to come out and enjoy,” Gay said.

Next week, the Opportunities Industrialization Center will host an event to honor founders of the organization who helped pave the way for it to become what it is today. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the OIC building, 402 E. Virginia St.