THE WINGS OF IERE

About the Book

THE WINGS OF IERE  is a collection of stories and songs, adapted from the Amerindian oral tradition and re-written to appeal to readers of all ages.

Caribbean poetry, modern rap, traditional dances, interpretive dances have all been interwoven and presented in this book just the way the stories have been told by Doris Harper-Wills live on stage with audience participation.

BOOK 1  AMERINDIAN LEGENDS are adaptations from oral tradition stories.

These legends  have been tweaked, elaborated, re-invented and re-mixed by the author

during her educational workshops with schoolchildren across the continents.

BOOK 2 AMERINDIAN MELODIES contains tunes from the oral tradition filled with original lyrics by the author -  a mnemonic to facilitate learning about the past.   Maps and photographs are also included. 

About the Author

DORIS HARPER-WILLS of London was born in Guyana, South America,.  She uses costumes, poetry, music, chants and dance to enhance her storytelling.  Her stories are rooted in the history, legend and lore  of the people who came to the Caribbean; her songs derived from the oral tradition. Schoolchildren the world over have participated with her on television, on radio, or live on stage and in parks. She has conceived, scripted and choreographed for Educational & Cultural Pageants (Guyana),  the  Lincoln Center Summer Festivals(New York), United Nations Day Celebrations(Zambia), Festival of Many Cultures (London Entertains), and the Commonwealth Institute Festivals (London) . She has  also written thematic stories commissioned for live performances around Britain notably The Nottingham and Bristol Museums,The Natural History & Science Museums, The Voice Box (Royal Festival Hall), and the BBC Radio 4 Schools Broadcast. Her stories have also been dramatised at The Yukon Storytelling Festival (Canada), Africa Theatre Exchange(Zimbabwe) and the Billie Holiday Theater (New York) Her awards and prizes include the Wordsworth McAndrew Lifetime Achievement Award (New York) the USAF  Award (Lakenheath), Top Storyteller Award   (Yukon), International Women’s Year Award (New York), the Carifesta Award(Guyana), The National History & Arts Council Poetry First Prize (Guyana), and the National History Short Story First Prize (Guyana). You can also find her songs and stories in the EEC Project and UNESCO Collection and in books published by A&C Black, the BBC, Bell & Hyman, Blackie, and Scholastics. Doris Harper-Wills is described  in the Black Archives touring exhibition as

 “ a guiding light focussed on teaching the history and culture of the Caribbean  

   diaspora  through her art-forms ".”