CHETTER GALLOWAY

Storyteller, Speaker, Workshop Facilitator of African and African American traditions

About Chetter 

Chetter Galloway is a storyteller rooted in African and African American traditions. A native of Suffolk, Virginia, and the youngest of eleven children, grew up listening to his father’s stories on family road trips. His favorite, “The Talking Skull,” a West African cautionary tale, sparked his passion for storytelling. 

Storytelling Journey 

He discovered storytelling at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and refined his craft through East Tennessee State University’s Master of Arts in Reading program, with a concentration in storytelling. His educational work includes ten years as a roster artist with Young Audiences and service with Birmingham’s Better Basics Enrichment Program. 

Performance Style and Programs 

Chetter shares folktales, personal narratives, and stories across genres with audiences nationwide, adding the distinctive touch he calls “Chetterizing.” His lively, participatory performances blend music, drumming, and drama to immerse listeners in each tale. By weaving in the djembe drum, he invites audiences to “feel the rhythm and live the story.” 

Programs are available for churches, family reunions, businesses, retreats, holiday celebrations, and other special occasions. His recordings include Evil Knows Where Evil Sleeps and Fresh Squeezed Carrot Juice: Tales of Brer Rabbit. 

Selected Performance Credits 

• Live: Atlanta Botanical Garden; Atlanta Dogwood Festival; Atlanta Fringe Festival; High Museum of Art; The Moth; RISK!; National Black Arts Festival; National Storytelling Network; the Smithsonian; and the Wren’s Nest, where he serves as a Storytelling Rambler. 

• Virtual: Better Said Than Done; Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers; National Association of Black Storytellers 38th Annual Festival; Black Storytellers Alliance; Funda Fest; Artists Standing Strong Together; Speak Story Series; Story Crossroads; and Story Space. 

Awards and Accolades 

• Atlanta Moth StorySLAM Winner, 2024 

• Dawn-Breakers Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest, 2025 

• ETSU Storytelling Alumni Hall of Fame Award, 2026 

• Two-time StorySLAM Finalist, National Storytelling Festival, 2023 and 2026 

Professional Memberships 

• National Association of Black Storytellers 

• National Storytelling Network 

• Georgia Storytelling Network 

• Toastmasters International