Kijana Wiseman-Fusilier, M.Ed...
Welcome to Kijana's World
Griot Storytelling....
...with music... laughter... and audience involvement!!
Kijana as the Statue of Liberty
Kijana as the Statue of Liberty
Kijana as the Statue of Liberty
"LEST WE FORGET..." Kijana sings the American National Anthem with a preamble that reminds the 1800 person audience at the Greater Houston Frontiers Club's Martin Luther King Scholarship Breakfast that the original statue of Liberty was of an exSlave.
Griot Time Travel
Kijana as the Statue of Liberty
Kijana as the Statue of Liberty
"The Griot" celebrates the unity of mankind though the use of music.
A 10 min Showcase at APCA Nationals
as written and performed by Kijana at colleges and corporate venues around the world.
Corporate / Organization
Kijana as the Statue of Liberty
Corporate / Organization
Kijana serenades the late Mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, Congressman Al Green, State Representatives, Councilmen, Harris County officials and diners at a South Houston Concerned Citizens Coalition Awards Banquet.
"Pie Jesu" at TSU Museum
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
Corporate / Organization
"Pie Jusu" at Texas Southern University Museum as part of the premier of
"Lights! Camera! Action! ...in the Tre'!"
Written by Sister Mama Sonya
Produced by Dwight Baxter
College Griot Demo
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
This "Best College Diversity Program" is adaptable in theme and song. Kijana also offers 2 workshops: "What R U Doin' About Th' Rest of Yr Life" and "Rebate a Date."
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
Here Kijana performs a song from "Evita" for Citywide Center for Performing and Visual Arts at the grand opening of the Houston Texans YMCA.
13 of Kijana's one act plays for teens have won 14 regional first place awards.
Kijana is a Griot*
* ...a versatile edutainment storyteller of historical, theatrical and communicative arts."
Kijana Wiseman, MEd,'s unique captivating performances have been seen in 23 countries and ar over 300 colleges
.
Accolades include 1st Place in the City of Houston Talent Competition; APCA's national Best College Performing Artist of the Year, and "Best College Diversity Program" for 2 years in a row.
Kijana has worked with the National Liberian Cultural Troupe; taught theatre at the American Cooperative School; hosted a weekly TV entertainment show on ELTV; performed with Hugh Masekela, Mariam Makeba and for numerous politicians and of heads of state.
2026 "Living Exhibit" Performances...
at the Houston Heritage Society's Sam Houston Park Museum
..in Downtown Houston, next to City Hall…on the porches of 2 historic homes…
Sam Houston Museum, Elevated Tour
"FROM PLANTATION TO EMANCIPATION"
A "Living Exhibit" on the porches of 2 historic homes.
2nd & 4th Saturdays • 10am • Info & Tickets
SAM HOUSTON PARK, 1100 Bagby, Houston TX 77002
Script by Martha Whiting Goddard,
(Jack Yates' Great-Granddaughter)
~ PLANTATION ~
"ELIZABETH"
Location: The "Old Place"
Moving spirituals drawsyou into living history as Kijana greets tourists and museum visitors on the porch of this plantation-style home.
She uses song and drama to share the true story of an enslaved mother whose master has sold her precious 11 year-old daughter Elizabeth to another plantation to settle his debts.
She shares her prayer that she can somehow protect her other children from the same fate.
~ EMANCIPATION ~
"HARRIET WILLIS YATES"
Location: The "Jack Yates House"
Experience the infectious joy of this vivacious wife of the Rev. Jack Yates as she tells of her family's trek to Houston from Virginia.
Discover the beginnings of education for people of color in the Houston area and the origin of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church .
Harriet invites you to tour the lovely home Jack and her brothers built for her and their six children… historically credited with being the very first two-story private residence in the City of Houston!
Creative and Original Works...
Kijana's Liberian AudioDrama
Kijana's Liberian AudioDrama
Kijana's Liberian AudioDrama
NO MI' YAH
or "All the times I Almost Died"
Stories of PCV Kijana in Africa
CHAPTERS 1 through 6
Chapters 7 through 10:
"Koko Lio Ko"
Kijana's Liberian AudioDrama
Kijana's Liberian AudioDrama
Here Kijana performs an original adaptation of a Liberian Children's song "Koko Lio Ko"
The performance was requested of her by the late US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
to honor and entertain the former first Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
"Ballerina African"
Kijana's Liberian AudioDrama
"Ballerina African"
This is an original poem written by Kijana while working with the National Liberian Cultural Dance Troupe in Kendeja, Liberia on the original African ballet, “Rescue of the Sacrificial Victim”
It is a tribute to her student's beautiful dance of joy at her deliverance.
"No Trees"
"Jaws Ate Jaws"
"Ballerina African"
Kijana on Nigerian Television:
A victim of a drive-by was allowed to rot in the hot Liberian sun. No one in her village wanted to tell the police for fear of being arrested as a quick “open and shut” case” so Kijana led the authorities to the body. This made her see life with new eyes…realizing it's cruelty. That night, she wrote the poem “No Trees”
"Jaws Ate Jaws"
"Jaws Ate Jaws"
"Jaws Ate Jaws"
Kijana on Nigerian Television:
Here Kijana tells the story of the time, while at her favorite lagoon in Liberia, West Africa, she was caught between having to choose whether to die by Crocodile or in the embrace of a hungry Python...All the while trying to protect the novel she was reading--ironically about a movie in far away America named "Jaws"
"Laziness"
"Jaws Ate Jaws"
"Jaws Ate Jaws"
Kijana on Nigerian Television:
Here Kijana tells Nigerian producer Nosa Ajayi, about the time, while teaching 9th grade English to artists at the National Liberian Culture Center School, a master-level Gio drummer taught her the true antonym of "Strong."
"Relax, Breathe, I Love You"
"Relax, Breathe, I Love You"
"Relax, Breathe, I Love You"
.Written and sung by Kijana Wiseman to Aundra Fusilier at their Wedding.
"Relax, breathe......I love you... Relax, breathe......I'm here... I know you believe I love you, So relax, breathe my dear...."
Comments...
"IT WAS HER VOICE..."
"It was her voice that caught their attention, sometimes honey like Billie Holiday, sometimes Ella Fitzgerald’s glass-shattering style. She could sing as sorrowful as a flute, happy as a drum.
But when Kijana Wiseman sang, boys whose thoughts were outside the pavilion, under cotton candy clouds, stopped fidgeting. Women with straw hats tapped their feet. Little girls, some with hair braided and beaded, swayed and hummed along to Sunday morning songs.”
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
As "The Griot," Wiseman changes costumes, voices and personas numerous times in an hour....
Caught up in her rhythm, you will look at Wiseman and have a kaleidoscope view...sheʼll become alternately, a slave, a gospel choir director, a vaudeville performer and opera and jazz singers, unveiling the message that music unifies people and we are all less different than we may think.”
-Stacy Smith-Segovia,
Go! Staff, the Leaf Chronicle, Clarkesville TN
Unique...
“Kijana Wiseman is a character, the likes of which you wonʼt run across more than once or twice in this lifetime.
In fact, just knowing that there is even one person like her in this world is both shocking and exciting.....
-The Leaf Chronicle, Clarkesville TN
FANTASTIC SHOW!
FANTASTIC SHOW! What a delightful trip through history with song and stories. The students enjoyed participating and learning at the same time. We just loved your voice! Thanks for such a wonderful performance.
-Bluefield State University, Bluefield West Virginia
"KIJANA, YOUʼRE AMAZING! "
KIJANA, YOUʼRE AMAZING!
There was so much positive feedback about your presentations ...please consider performing next year at the Sam Houston Folk Festival!
-Ahia Shabaaz, Sam Houston Folk Festivali
Early Beginnings...
Child Actress and Soloist...
PHOTO:
5 Year old Kijana with her cousin AJ Wiseman. This photo was taken by her Father El'Ray Wiseman, Sr. just before she performed her first academic solo at Sanderson Elementary School.
* * *
Kijana began performing at the age of four, singing with her father and his gospel quartet... becoming professional at the age of nine. Elementary years were spent singing and performing at church, school, and in time, breaking Jim Crow barriers… integrating the stages of the historic Theatre Incorporated and the original Alley Theatre (when it was still in an alley).
Kijana's first speech / drama instructor at Theatre Incorporated was KTRK-TV's children's programing host, KiTiRiK (Bunny Orsak). KiTiRiK was a gorgeous young woman in a cat suit who entertained and inspired Houston children. As one of Bunny's proteges, Kiijana was one of the first children of color to appear as a guest on the program.
The Formative Years...
PHOTO:
Here Kijana is shown as one of the artists of the popular Houston civil rights guerrilla theatre group, lead by prolific author and playwrights Thomas Maloncon , Margie Walker, Manning Mott, Bill Richards the late Bill Milligan, Cary, Kenneth and other talented members of Sudan Arts Southwest.
* * *
Kijana spent 6 years at Houston's Kashmere Jr. Sr. High, being nurtured by the principal, Dr. Ira B. Bryant and the amazing army of teachers he commanded. Kijana was molded by the music expertise of Mrs. Mary Roby and Prof. Conrad Johnson; the theatrical coaching of Ms. Lady Scranton and scientific challenges for independent study of Ms. Lane and Mrs. Martha Whiting (Jack Yates grand-daughter).
Kijana won yearly 1st place awards for the Kashmere High School at Texas Interscholastic League Speech and Drama competitions. At graduation, she was a recipient of the both the AKA Leadership and National Science Foundation Scholarships. She was a pioneer in integrating Houston Baptist College and Rice University's Gifted Students Program.
While completing her fine arts degree at the University of Houston Drama School, Kijana volunteered, as a member of Sudan Arts Southwest, to cultural programming events that helped support and finance the community enrichment needs of S.H.A.P.E Community Center
She and other artists are still giving their time an talents performing at numerous fundraisers for SHAPE.
Blossoming In Liberia...
PHOTO: A still shot from a German TV / Movie Preview commercial for Merz Products that was viewed in 27 countries.
• • •
KIJANA SPENT 6 YEARS IN WEST AFRICA.
Upon acquiring her undergraduate degree in fine arts at University of Houston, Wiseman joined a special Peace Corps program that allowed her to serve 2 years as a Peace Corps / Teacher-Corps Volunteer to the National Liberian Cultural Troupe in the artist village of Kendeja. It was during this time that she completed her Masters of Education degree requirements, with a thesis specializing in Liberian Kinesiology and its importance in communications and traditional West African Theatre.
After Peace Corps duty, Kijana served concurrent 4 years as Drama Instructor at Liberia's prestigious American Cooperative School and 3 years as the entertainment TV talk show host of "Under the Palm Tree" on Monrovia Liberia's national television network. She also sang for prestigious events and modeled for international advertisers.
Kijana and her in Liberia band "SSSteamMoga!" performed often for heads of state and at gigs with South African icon Hugh Masekela
• • •
As the host of her "Under the Palm Tree" talk show on ELBC-TV, Kijana offered entertainment, current affairs and educational programs. She wrote and directed plays for young audiences; interviewed heads of State; performed for-- and with--numerous international celebrities such as The Temptations, Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and other political and entertainment dignitaries.
Her most controversial guest was during the OAU convention, where her life was threatened after not being compliant in her forced interview the dictator Idi Amine. (That "No Mi Yah" story segment is in the works.)
Audio Drama:
NO MI' YAH
or "All the Times I Almost Died"
Chronicles of an African American Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia, West Africa.
“NO MI’ YAH” IS A WORK-IN-PROGRESS
Listen to the 1st ten chapters below on YouTube...
. ....ENJOY!
"NO MI' YAH"
CHAPTERS 1 through 6
- CHAPTER TIME TITLE
- Chapter 1: 00:35 Freedom!
- Chapter 2: 07:16 Lisboa
- Chapter 3: 20:01 Madrid
- Chapter 4: 26:01 Footprints
- Chapter 5: 35:09 The Taxi
- Chapter 6: 49:16 The Dress
"NO MI' YAH"
Chapters 7 through 10:
- CHAPTER TIME TITLE
- Chapter 7: 00:21 Patience No More
- Chapter 8: 06:20 Drugs
- Chapter 9: 14:43 Dance With Me!
- Chapter 10: 27:55 Prince Charming
More to come!
"The American Griot"
Kijana returned to Houston Texas in 1979 to build a business and take care of family. Since her return, she has created The Wiseman Company, an advertising and creative production firm...and MoShows.com, a, pre-internet artist promotion and placement agency that helped associate artists with national bookings.
Kijana reconnected with S.H.A.P.E Community Center, and at the request of Director Deloyd Parker, created a Kwanzaa presentation that eventually evolved into her joyous time-travel audience participatory adventure, "The Griot" This led her to lecture/tour over 300 colleges, and be voted as an APCA "Best College Performing Artist of the Year" ...and "The Griot" as "Best College Diversity Program" for 2 years in a row.
Kijana was a Texas Touring Roster Artist for 3 years; performed for 9 years with the Houston Symphony Chorus, 4 years with the Houston Oratorio Society; performed for 8 years with the WABC' Workshop Chorus and won 1st place in the City of Houston Talent Competition.
KIJANA'S HISTORY EXHIBITS...
“Huntsville Heroes” is a free outdoor Photo Exhibit on the grounds of the Samuel Walker Houston Museum on 10th St. in Huntsville, Texas. Each 4x5' exhibit shares little known facts about Huntsville patriots who helped further education, opportunity and achievement for Black Texans.
This exhibit is currently entering its 2nd year of display on the front lawn of the SAMUEL WALKER HOUSTON MUSEUM
1604 Tenth St. in Huntsville, Texas
An extension of the "Heroes" display is at the entrance to the site of the first public school for colored children for Walker County.
639 Rosenwall Rd, Huntsville Texas
• • •
PUBLISHERS OF THE HOUSTON INFORMER AND TEXAS FREEMAN ...SINCE 1893"
A portable, "Step Back in Time" traveling exhibit created in conjunction with the Houston Informer Foundation and Publisher Lorenza Butler Jr. This exhibit celebrates the lives and achievements of six prolific Houston Informer Publishers. Major sponsor: H-E-B
Currently housed at the Shrine Cultural and Event Center, the mobile EXHIBIT IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR SPECIAL EVENT or Educational Display needs. For booking info, please send the request form to request a showing at your location/event.
