Interview with Nicole Muro by Amani Francis © 2006 Amani Francis and Terri Staten

Amani: How did you arrive in St. Augustine all the way from The Poconos, Pennsylvania?

Nicole: Well how do any of us end up where we are? In the beginning of winter after traveling during the summer and fall I would always come back to sunny Florida . I lived in a few places throughout Florida and vibed well with St. Augustine so I decided to stay.

Amani: What places have you traveled to sell and promote your artistry?

Nicole: Concentrated mostly on the eastern side of the United States . I spent a lot of time in Ohio, Indiana, and Upstate New York. I vended at a lot of concerts, camping festivals, and arts & craft shows. I even did a county fair once that was a funny experience.

Amani: Did any of those places have influence on you as an artist?

Nicole: Of course, not only would your beautiful surroundings inspire you as an artist (natural quarries, rivers, lakes, mountains) but also at the shows there would always be other talented artists you could learn something new from. The best is when you can trade knowledge and artwork with each other.

Amani: How did you first get involved in West African dance, and what influence has it had on you as a dancer and as a drummer?

Nicole: I met Christa Sylla at an African Dance class in St. Augustine. She told me about the Culture Moves classes she was starting in Jacksonville and I joined a few months after it got started. For years I have loved to play the djembe'. This gave me a chance to learn more of the history of where it originated from along with traditional rhythms, dances and their meanings. It has made me better understand and appreciate the West African culture.

Amani: You were a cast member in the play Majigeen which chronicled the life of the Senegalese plantation owner, Anta Majigeen Njaay. How did being a part of the Majigeen cast effect you as an artist overall.

Nicole: It helped me expand my creativity, and discipline of working so tediously with a large group of people. I love plays, and to be a part of such an awesome, talented crew of artists was a gift.

Amani: As a part of your in-home catering business, what are some of your favorite dishes to prepare?

Nicole: It's funny cause I like to do it all. I really try to encourage who I am cooking for to choose a menu they want me to do. I like to try new recipes all the time it keeps cooking/baking challenging and fun for me.

Amani: It's amazing that you're a midwife's assistant. Can you tell our readers how many babies you've helped bring into the world? What type of insight into your daily life does being a midwife bring to you?

Nicole: I have assisted in 7 births with more on the way. To be involved in the point where these mommas are the strongest they will ever be is an experience like no other. It is very intimate being in the comfort of their homes, birthing naturally, and most of them in water is an experience like no other. One of the best parts is not only witnessing the children's births but being able to see them grow.

Amani: You mentioned in your bio that using your Grandma Muro's sewing machine gave you a “direct connection” to her. Can you tell us more about that spiritual connection?

Nicole: We all have a spiritual connection with our ancestors, we would not be who we are without them. Creating on the machine my Grandmother used gives her and I a chance to connect with one another on another level since we were not able to have a physical connection.

Amani: Tell us about your clothes making process? What pieces do you prefer to make?  

Nicole: I sew in patchwork patterns, most of what I make consists of more than 2 or 3 fabrics. I like to do special orders the best, making a purse or a baby blanket for someone I know makes me able to customize the item for that person.

Amani: Out of all of your different crafts, what is your favorite and why?  

Nicole: That is a tough one! I really don't have a favorite, the reason I do all the different aspects I do is because I have a love for it all. Adding on new ideas to what I already know keeps things fresh and creative.