“Close your eyes,” the storyteller beckoned, “and imagine you’re sitting in a huge catboat with wings… flying into Gimistory Land.”
And just like that, the crowd – children with moms, dads, uncles and aunts – was swept into an evening of magic, memory and laughter at Heritage Park in West Bay.
The Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s beloved annual storytelling festival returned with a vibrant first night on 5 Nov. and it was clear from the start: Gimistory is a celebration of imagination, identity and the power of words to connect generations.
The evening opened with youth storytellers, their voices ringing with pride and playfulness. Ten-year-olds Navy Lopez and Augustina Rodriguez, classmates from Village Montessori School, shared their co-written poem ‘Ocean Blue’, a shimmering tribute to Cayman’s natural beauty: “Step into the ocean blue… glimmering sunset smiles with glee, as golden waves dance upon the sea.”
Followed by Kiyoshi Vernon’s ghostly tale of the ‘Duppy Lady’ haunting a mysterious island, the young voices set the tone: Storytelling is alive and well in Cayman’s next generation.
Master drummer Randy Chollette brought rhythm to the night, his African drum speaking in thunder and whispers – rainfall, footsteps, dancing – turning each tale into a living soundscape.
Then came the adult storytellers, ushered in by the Gimistory chant: “Come let us go! Let us go!” And go they did – into stories rooted in folklore, family and the fantastical.
Legends, lessons and laughter
Seasoned storyteller Giselle Webb spun the cautionary tale of Ben, the lazy man who tried to trick a magical mango tree into sending him all the money he could ever need. His greed buried him – literally – in a pile of green mangos. “Nobody ever saw Ben again,” she said, to gasps and giggles.
Camille Angel took the audience up the attic steps of childhood, where old photo albums revealed the strength of ancestors and the promise both of being and of becoming. “A story unfolding… and I am part of it,” she said, echoing Gimistory’s core message: We are all stories in motion.
Evana Martinez’s tale of parrots Carol and John was a parable of preparation. While Carol stocked their tree-home with guineps and almonds, lazy John ignored warnings – until the storm came. “No Bobo… no room,” said the crab. But Carol, ever loyal, welcomed him back.
Priscilla Pouchie’s storm story – of a boy and his uncle surviving in the Mosquito Cays by praying and holding onto a coconut tree – was a testament to faith and resilience. And Nasaria Suckoo Chollette’s tale of the ‘Munzie Boat’ thief, with floating blue squab heads as evidence, was pure West Bay magic, as a great hand from the sea came to reclaim its own.
To close the night, the legendary Black Sage took the mic with his signature ‘extempo’ singing – improvised lyrics on the spot, weaving humor and heart into a rhythmic send-off that had the audience clapping and laughing.
Related Videos
