Kijana

Singer / Songwriter / Lecturer / Griot

Winner: APCA Best Diversity Program of the Year 2001
Winner: APCA Performing Artist of the Year 2002
Winner: APCA Best Diversity Program of the Year 2002

Finalist: Winner: APCA College Performing Artist, 2003-2005

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More Info: www.Kijana.com
Songlist  | Biography   | The Griot Program  |
Posters, Flyers and Publicity Resources  |
Reviews & Articles  |

“THE GRIOT”

Adaptable Audience Adventures!

APCA Best Diversity Program for 2001 & 2002

Kijana, as The Griot, takes your audience on a time trip back to the dawn of existence while portraying many different types of women in history: an African maiden, slave, gospel choir director, preacher, toddler, jazz, vaudeville rock and even opera singer-- celebrating our common ancestrial musical heritage.

THEME VARIATIONS: The Kwanzaa Griot, The Children's Griot & The Women's Griot 

"GEMINI LOVE SONGS"
Beautiful, romantic melodies from both sides of love.
This program is perfect for receptions, banquets, countryclubs and special events...

Kijana uses her 3.5 octaves to sing romantic showtunes and melodious originals--and more: Streisand, Norah Jones, Alicia Keyes, Whitney Houston, Natalie/Nat King Cole, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, etc, peppered with the music of Vaudeville, Cats, The Sound of Music, Finian's Rainbow, Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Porgy & Bess, etc. Available w/ tracks or live musicians. Gemini Love Songs Song List.

THIS VIDEO:

Kijana is shown here in concert with award-winning pianist/composer Janie Frazier... performing originals by them both.

THIS VIDEO:

Kijana performs her award-winning “singing lecture” as The Griot in several  different venues

Live MP3 Audio Samples....

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

Kijana sings after  9/11

for Houston City Council at the Wortham Center.

RELAX, BREATHE,

I LOVE YOU

Kijana sings her original wedding song while walking down the aisle.

STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Kijana sings the national anthem for the Government Procurement Conference.

FIELDS OF GOLD

Kijana sings this sweet tune live at a reception for US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed. is a versatile performer of theatrical and communicative arts. An award-winning lyric coloratura soprano with a 3.5 octave range, Kijana has been performing since she was four years old--professionally since the age of nine. She has won the City of Houston Talent Competition and been named the national APCA 2002 Best College Performing Artist of the Year.  Her interactive one-woman show, The Griot, has been named the Best College Diversity Program for 2001 and 2002.   

Kijana began her theatrical career as a child actress at Houston's Theatre Inc. and Alley Theatre where she held many lead roles in musicals and plays. She received her BFA in Theatre from the University of Houston and her Masters, specializing in African Theatre, as a result of joint studies at Texas Southern University and the University of Liberia, West Africa.  Kijana lived in Liberia,  for 6 years, first as a Peace Corps Volunteer, working and performing with the National Liberian Cultural Troupe, then as a performer, model and TV host of  “Under the Palm Tree with Kijana” (for 3 years) on ELBC-TV.  She sang with Mariam Makeba, Hugh Masakela and, upon returning to America, for several years with the Houston Symphony Chorus, The WABC Workshop Chorus, The Oratorio Society’s Masterworks Chorus and as an artist of MoShows.com.

Kijana has a voice that makes most audiences think she is a CD when they first hear her and has developed a collection of hundreds of jazz / pop / vaudeville / showtunes and international songs with ipod tracks or live accompaniment.  She has appeared in over a dozen countries on the American, African and European continents and on stages as “The Griot” at over 200 colleges in the USA. Her song list, biography, promotional files, performance history, newspaper reviews and articles, photo gallery,  and more info is available at the Kijana.com homepage or by calling  713-521-0900 / 800-546-0540. 

“Rebate a Date” 

A candid workshop on dating survival. Proven techniques to help students avoid date rape, awkward goodbyes, HIV-AIDS, "Homer" and the "Hoochies." Includes audience participation with interaction, dramatic improv, Q & A and open discussion.  Perfect for school /college orientations.

“So, What RU Doin’ Bout the Rest of Yr Life?” 

Kijana uses dramatic interp, discussion, role-playing, Q&A and customized worksheets to imbue a sense of self-determination...encouraging participants to take control of their lives. This workshop is customized to suit the needs of folk in various stages of life: elementary, teens, college, adults & seniors.

Motivational Workshops: 

See Kijana’s videos on the MoShows YouTube site!