Welcome to the website of Orisirisi African Folklore.

Orisirisi, one of the worlds most preeminent performing arts company, was created in 1986 with the expressed purpose of sharing both the beauty and poignancy of African life and culture.

Co-produced, directed, and performed by a husband and wife team comprised of Nigerian born folk-artist Adetutu Harrell and Don Harrell a music scholar and performing artist, who is a life-long veteran of stage and screen, Orisirisi (a Yoruba word pronounced o-re-she-re-she) utilizes varied artistic forms to impart folk-knowledge and experiences to and for their audiences.

Ilenbilu Adetutu, a graduate of Crown College , London England is an extraordinarily talented musician, dancer, singer, and storyteller with cultural specific background that spans decades. Tutu, as she is widely known, shares the rich cultural heritage of her ancestry with love that knows no boundries.

Don holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Union College , Schenectady , New York , a Master of Arts degree in African Studies from the University of California , Los Angeles , and has completed additional studies, at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana , Legon , Ghana . With full knowledge of the usefulness of the use arts as tools in positive social change, he has for many years worked tirelessly with this end in mind.