African American Literature.

Brought to Life.

For nearly three decades, Geylah has transformed classic, African American poetry into unforgettable theatrical experiences. Welcome to Power of the Tongue. 

Experience the show

The signature experience

More than poetry.
More than history.
An experience.

Power of the Tongue is Ge’ylah’s signature 75-minute, one-woman theatrical experience. This riveting production is anchored in classic, textbook African American poetry and transformed into a dynamic stage performance. The performance brings generations of literature to life through immersive dramatization and oral storytelling, picturesque narration, custom Afrocentric costumes, period music, and powerful video footage. The production is specifically designed to provide high-impact education and entertainment for year-round campus programming, It is the embodiment of purposeful programming, as it offers a meaningful, engaging, and culturally rich presentation that elevates the audience experience.

Discover the Show

THE ROAD TO 30 YEARS

A performance journey built across America

POWER OF THE TONGUE

A LEGACY IN MOTION

A PERFORMANCE JOURNEY BUILT ACROSS AMERICA.

Nearly three decades ago, Ge’ylah began transforming literary experiences across the country—leaving a trail of standing ovations from college campuses to inaugural halls to corporate auditoriums to academic and religious conferences. In the process, she redefined artistic excellence in African American literary performance."

100+

COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES

35

STATES ENGAGED NATIONWIDE

30

NEARLY 30 YEARS OF LEGACY

100s

OF ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES

ACROSS THE COUNTRY

FROM CAMPUS TO CAMPUS TO CAMPUS

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Texas

COLORADO STATE

Colorado

BRADLEY UNIVERSITY

Illinois

SPOKANE FALLS CC

Washington

GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE

Georgia

FROM THE ARCHIVES

A STORY TOLD IN HEADLINES.

Power of the Tongue in the Chicago Defender

The Chicago Defender highlights Ge’ylah’s one-woman show and her mission to preserve history through performance.

Power of the Tongue on Campus

Ge’ylah brings her one-woman show to college audiences through poetry, history, music and powerful storytelling.

Words That Move an Audience

A feature on Ge’ylah’s performance work and the unique way she brings Power of the Tongue to life through words and song.

In the Company of Literary Greatness

Ge’ylah pictured with legendary poet Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet Laureate of Illinois.

Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. King

Power of the Tongue brings classic Black literature, history and spoken word to the stage in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Preserving Black History Through Performance

Through poetry, song, prayer and storytelling, Ge’ylah turns history into an experience audiences can see, hear and feel.

EXPLORE THE ARCHIVE

FROM AN EDUCATOR

A Presence that
Commanded the Campus

2013 Academy For Visual and Performing Arts/ Africana Studies
Artist-In-Residence - Texas A & M

“We were engaged. We were mesmerized. We were touched

DR. VIOLET JOHNSON • CHAIRPERSON, AFRICANA STUDIES •TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY

THE SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE

MORE THAN POETRY. MORE THAN HISTORY. AN EXPERIENCE.

In addition to an accompanying class curriculum, Geylah’s performance is built on six unique layers that enrich the student learning experience, each offering a distinct educational component valued by educators and academics alike.

DISCOVER THE SHOW

01 / POETRY

The words, and wisdom of classic African American poets—from Phillis Wheatley, Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson and Paul Laurence Dunbar to Maya Angelou, Margaret Walker Alexander, and Nikki Giovanni—performed with the depth, emotion and dramatic interpretation that make the literature unforgettable.

02 / HISTORY

The vivid, narratives that provide the cultural scope and circumstances that shaped the poetry audiences are hearing.

03 / THEATER

Optimized for a traditional theater setting, the staging engages and holds audiences utterly spellbound from the opening to the final curtain

04 / MULTIMEDIA

The historic period footage, and carefully selected music undergird the performance, creating an immersive experience that transports audiences into another time.

05 / STORYTELLING

With a natural gift for commanding an audience, Ge’ylah effortlessly delivers riveting narratives and powerful dramatizations, keeping audiences captivated from beginning to end.

06 / EDUCATION

The rich literary and historical content complements classroom curricula, deepens students’ understanding of African American literature and creates a natural catalyst for post-performance class visits, discussion and masterclasses.

THE ROAD TO 30

THE STAGE HAS A MEMORY.

AGE 5

The Gift Begins

Geylah begins reciting classic African American poetry under her mother’s guidance.

1997

A National Possibility

Under the mentorship of Dr. Donda West, Geylah's artistry gained national momentum. By combining the oral tradition of the griot with modern theater, she built a program using classic poems to tell the story of Black history through literature. She expanded this performance specifically for college campuses, where students deeply needed "edu-tainment" that addressed cultural narratives.

1998

The Road Opens

The launch of "The Power of the Tongue" national college tour marks a period of intense demand for Geylah. Performing from campus to campus, she blends formal oratorical and memorization skills with theatrical stagecraft, cementing her name among elite collegiate performance circles.

2013

A Pause in the Road

Initiating a deep recess, Ge’ylah Jones intentionally halted her national tours to channel her creative energy into local impact, authorship, and foundational community work. During this period, she sustained her artistic roots by performing locally while coaching speech and drama for the Chicago State University Upward Bound Program and the Operation PUSH Rainbow Coalition. She also authored FORENSICS, a comprehensive 22-week speech and debate curriculum, and served as a national judge for the prestigious HBCU National Speech and Debate Competition at Wiley College. Driven by a vision for early learners, she created The Little Black Voices, a creative platform for young children who create. This meaningful transition ultimately culminated in a major move from Chicago to South Carolina, where she stepped into the role of primary caretaker for her grandparents following their dementia diagnosis

2025

The Return

The legendary performance artist recently made her highly anticipated return to the stage, solidifying her legacy with a series of powerful live appearances. Bringing decades of artistic mastery and refined craft back to the spotlight, she delivered standout performances at the APCA Showcase and the prestigious NOW Conference, sharing the stage with an extraordinary lineup of powerhouse speakers and creators—including Les Brown, Stan Pearson II, and Odell Blizzard. These events marked a triumphant return, serving as the first of many powerful performances to come as she enters this exciting new chapter of the highly responsive and popular "Power of the Tongue - One Woman Show."

NOW

The Road to 30

This performance season marks three decades of dedication to spoken oral tradition. Explore the archival scripts, exclusive back-stage press releases, and modern concert galleries documenting thirty years of vocal mastery and powerful storytelling.

EXPLORE GE'YLAH'S STORY

CREATE THE EXPERIENCE

One Visit. Three ways to touch your campus.

01

CAPTIVATE

Theatrical Performance

Select one of the (8) performance offerings that align with your intended programming and campus needs.

02

EDUCATE

Class Visit & Interactive Workshop

Choose an academic bridge that will support an instructors curriculum or that will validate and encourage an active campus organization.

03

INSPIRE

Masterclass & Keynote Address

Enrich the overall experience with a transformative, scholarly masterclass on the historical elements of Black arts, or the hidden business realities and profound legacy of professional performing arts. ( Book Included)

EXPLORE PROGRAMS
“I couldn't have picked a better, more appropriate way to kick off Black History Month than with Power of the Tongue.”
Belinda J. Carr
Western Illinois University
“Your work was so powerful...”
Tracy Niggins
Bemidji University


THE ROAD TO 30

The Evolution

continues.

Power of the Tongue is entering its next chapter with new campus performances, cultural programs and educational experiences.

2027 dates coming soon

EXPLORE PROGRAMS View tour & upcoming dates

BRING THE EXPERIENCE

BRING THE POWER OF THE TONGUE

to your campus.

Give your audience more than a presentation. Give them an experience that brings literature, history and the power of the spoken word to life.

Check availability
 View program options

Black History Month

MLK Celebrations
Women’s History Month
National Poetry Month
Literature & Humanities
Conferences
Cultural Programming

POWER OF THE TONGUE

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