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Africalia
SETTLEMENT
SOIT/Hans Van den Broeck
Harare - Zimbabwe - HIFA festival
Together with 15 local performers (dancers, actors, storytellers) from Harare, we worked 2 weeks on the project Settlement. Our goal was to make a finished performance, represented 3 consecutive nights at the HIFA-festival in Harare/Zimbabwe.
After reading BBC World Service website and googling like crazy prior to our departure, we had a lot of doubts on how we could create in a place where misery, poverty and political tensions are rising. How safe would it be?
Warmup: Hans Van den Broeck.
Which audience would we perform for? The internet didn't really help us, it rather made us more confused and scared. A reassuring mail from the passionate director of the festival, Manuel Bagorro, convinced us of our personal safety, although we were to find out that the festival took a very daring and clear political stand, which actually made it the right context to work in. But most of all, the daily process of working with these very talented and extremely generous local performers made us realize why we were there!
We rehearsed under the shadows of the trees in Harare Gardens, trying to avoid the heat. Soon many young security people, who were temporarily employed and for whom it meant a welcome job, became our audience. They were laughing, reacting, moving with us, asking if they could join in. It created a great atmosphere and public stage, a social event that was new to us. The performers themselves were quick in spirit and reaction. We were positively surprised that our proposals were not at all strange to them; they couldn't wait to start the improvisation. Many times we found ourselves laughing heartily with the witty and sharp situations they came up with.
We also learned a lot of their well-developed improvisational skills as individuals and their alertness for the other, within a group. We felt this had to do with their strong cultural value of "sharing" with one another. Something the West has lost. As a result they were able to improvise for a long time, with many subtle variations, and we kept watching with pleasure, playfulness being a strong aspect of the improvisations.
Through the dancers the harsh reality outside seeped in : frequent road blocks, identity-controls in buses, buses set afire, people visiting relatives suffering from aids, inflation that made prices triple in a few days. One morning one of our performers, a well-known actor in Zimbabwe didn't show up, we found out he had to appear in front of the censorship commission for his participation in a controversial, political play. He resumed the improvisation in the afternoon, visibly shaken, but not able to talk about it. We were reminded that daily life is a struggle and has many hazards for everyone. The political talks we had were usually one on one. There was a fear of being heard, fear of the length of the Old Man's arm.
Our performances went very well, we shared the joy of making a common reality, a new settlement that existed for a few days in the heart of Harare, attracting a very mixed audience. We helped diversify the audience mix by filling the few remaining empty seats by welcoming young teenagers “through the venue’s backdoor” that were curious enough but didn't have the money to enter the festival-site.
The performances had a certain roughness, a choice but also a consequence of the short creation time. We worked on energetic, ritual scenes. It was interesting for us to see the difference of the outcome with the previous creation of "settlement" in Sydney, Australia. Although very different, the humor became a common factor and... what is more healing then a good dose of laughter?
Even if just an instant, it brought us all together, made us chase away the morose feelings of powerlessness and made us get in touch with the desire to survive, to talk back, to step up.
Video excerpts of the project can be seen on www.soit.info
"Settlement" was funded by Africalia and hosted by the HIFA-festival
Direction : Hans Van den Broeck
For further information about Africalia and a copy of the latest newsletter containng these and other articles
go to:http://www.africalia.be/?lang=3&page=home
Nanzikambe Arts: Culture in Motion(Malawi), one of the new African Companies to join the Consortium is looking for partners
Nanzikambe Arts www.nanzikambe.org- the latest African company to join the Africa Consortium, is looking for partners in a project that is already under development in the UK with the Soho Theatre. African partners in this project are The Market Theatre from South Africa and Tumkuka Dance from Zimbabwe. In addition Nanzikambe has won funding from the British Council and the Norwegian Embassy to implement the programme of work
Nanzikambe is looking for: 4 British performers and a writer with an interest in the region, the issues around the Zimbabwe crisis, and the relationship between Africa and the West, strong physical performance skills, and a devising background. The performance will blend dance, song, mask – drawing upon the mythical heritage in Zimbabwe – with clearly defined character-led text."
For project Brief see Seeking Partners section of Project In Development page. For a full project descriiption contact the Africa Consortium - mollie@ukarts.com
"Wilberforce Women", a Visiting Arts UK project tours to Iceland and Poland
“Wilberforce Women", an inspiring story about working internationally, which promotes international development between women through photography is to head to Poland and Iceland in June 2008.
Since the project was founded in 2005 as part of Hull's involvement in the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the British Slave Trade, it has worked to forge links between women of Kingston upon Hull in East Yorkshire with women in the twin city of Freetown in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
In February 2007, with funding from Arts Council England and British Council, we delivered basic skills photography workshops to 58 women in Freetown. The women are extremely keen to learn media skills which might help them secure a career, earn an income, explore creative expression or advocate for change on issues which affect them. Their images of pride, freedom, belief and change, which together with the images taken by the women of Hull, were exchanged as postcards and greetings cards and exhibited in major photographic exhibitions in Freetown and at The Ferens in Hull under the title "Greetings!".
Photos: A selection of images taken by Hull/Freetown women
The Hull event was officially opened by the MP Meg Munn, and the exhibition was alsoattended by the Mayor of Freetown, the Mayoress of Hull and William Wilberforce, a direct descendant of the anti-slavery campaigner.
Now, with funding from Arts Council England and following initial contact made with women photographers in Europe, we are to introduce the concept of Wilberforce Women to women in Hull's sister cities of Reykjavik in Iceland and Szczecin in Poland. We also invite them to join the women in Hull and Freetown and contribute photographs for Mothers 2009 which will form four major photographic exhibitions in each of the four cities during summer 2009. To stage the exhibitions we are actively seeking funding and sponsorship.
Mothers 2009 will be a further visual exchange between artists, and encourage cross-cultural exchange of ideas, expertise and creativity and raise awareness of women's lives in our twin and sister cities.” Lee Karen Stow May 2008
Lee Karen Stow is an international photojournalist based in Hull. If you would like to know more about Wilberforce Women and Mothers 2009, please contact:
Lee Karen Stow: Telephone 07947 110504 Email: leestow@wtf.karoo.co.uk
Fiona Caley: Telephone 07972 628022 Email: fiona_caley@yahoo.co.uk
Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Concert on June 27th
Tickets are on sale already for a concert in Hyde Park on June 27 to celebrate the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela. Artists set to perform at this special event include Queen + Paul Rodgers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Jerry Dammers, Sugababes, Dame Shirley Bassey, Razorlight, Leona Lewis, and Jamelia.
Joining them will be South African and African artists Johnny Clegg, Sipho Mabuse, Loyiso, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Aids orphan choir The Children of Agape - the subject of the award winning film feature ‘We Are Together’, the legendary Papa Wemba and Sudanese ‘war child’ rapper Emmanuel Jal amongst others.
Mr. Mandela said: "You all know that I am supposed to be retired but my friends and the charitable organisations that bear my name want to use my 90th birthday year to raise funds to continue our work and so of course I want to help them. So, we have a bargain - I am going to London and they will host a concert in Hyde Park, which will raise awareness of our continuing work and much needed funds.”
As his final public engagement, Mr. Mandela’s appearance at the concert is sure to be emotional. His message is that we can all help to carry on his work: “It’s in our hands”.
Mr Mandela arrives in London next month to take part in a series of events which culminate in the concert, proceeds from which will go to fund his Aids charity 46664 (Mandela's prisoner number on Robben Island). 46664 tickets have been made available for sale.
for further information go to: http://www.46664.com/index.phpADAD launch the Trailblazers' Alumni
The Association of Dance of the African Diaspora(ADAD) will be celebrating 5yrs of ADAD Trailblazer Fellowships at the Moonshot Arts Centre on Thursday 20th March, with an evening that celebrates the achievements of past and present ADAD Trailblazers and will include a sharing of works by past fellows.
Set up in 2003, the Tralblazers' Fellowship has provided an all too rare opportunity for talented Black dance artists working within forms from the African diaspora to develop their work. It also allows teachers to develop their practice through training and professional exchange. By investing in these practitioners, ADAD is supporting the future of dance of the African Diaspora. To date, the fellowship has provided no less than 22 artists, including Bawren Tavaziva, Jean Abreu, Jane Sekonya and Irven Lewis.
For more information about ADAD and the Trailblazers' Fellowships visit http://www.adad.org.uk
Mhayise Productions present:
MARCH; Umthombi in Cameroun.
Musa Hatshwayo’s internationally acclaimed ‘Umthombi’ is a dance theatre duet about a young boy who delves into the quest of his traditional identity through mirroring and shadowing his mentor’s pathways. This work is programmed for this year’s 4th edition of Abok I Ngoma artistically directed by Elise Mballa in Cameroun; Yaounde. The festival will run from the 28th of March until the 1st of April. Umthombi is programmed for the 30th of March 2008.
Duration of the work; +/- 38 minutes.
APRIL;
Residency with Funeka Ramorula.Funeka Ramorula’s ‘Aluta Contininua’ has been selected for this year’s Choreographic Encounters which will take place from the 1st until the 10th of May 2008 in Tunis. Funeka will spend sometime in April under Musa Hlatshwayo’s residency preparing the solo for presentation. This marks the beginning of Ramorula’s mentorship by Musa Hatshwayo under Mhayise Productions.
‘Umthombi’ in Russia.
The exuberant relationship between the elder and the youngster is further explored at this years ‘Diversia’ hosted by Dance Dialogue from the 28th of April until the 1st of May 2008 in Russia; Moscow. This is subject to confirmation of sponsorship applied for.
Duration of the work; +/- 38 minutes.
SAUTI ZA BUSARA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Couldn't Do It Without You
It started with a minute’s silence to pay respects to the hundreds of people who have died or been displaced since December elections in neighbouring Kenya. It finished with a heaving dancefloor and partying ‘til the small hours at one of the island’s most stunning white-powder beach locations. In between, there was a carnival street parade, Swahili poetry competition, Zanzibar Festival Classics CD + DVD launch party, art exhibitions and more than forty of Africa’s finest music groups performing live inside the ancient walls of the Old Fort in the Stone Town of Zanzibar. 77% of those who attended agreed that Sauti za Busara really is “the friendliest festival on the planet.” Most said this year’s edition was the best by far, praising the event for its excellent organisation, exciting and diverse artistic programme, great sound quality, and peaceful ambiance. http://www.busaramusic.org/SzB2008pics/index_4.htm#45
More than four thousand people attended each day, including musicians, promoters and media professionals, travellers and tourists, Muslims and rastas and Zanzibari families. People of all ages came together in celebration and were united by the music. Finally a big thank you to everyone who helped to make the festival such a pleasure. Thanks to Zantel, all festival donors and sponsors, to artists and audience, to trustees, permanent staff and essential crew. Thanks too - to our friends and well wishers around the world who have supported Sauti za Busara during the first five years. Yusuf Mahmoud, Stone Town, 4 March 2008
For full details and pictures of the artists appearing at the Festival visit
http://www.busaramusic.org/artists/index.php?whereSzByearlike=%25
Bessie Awards
This year one of the Bessie award has gone to Germaine Acogny's choreography "Fragaala". The officials read "For creating a poignant and terrifying vision of mans' inhumanity to man and showing dance can speak truth to power."
Jant-Bi means Sun in Wolof - a Senegalese language - Compagnie Jant-Bi being a Senegalese modern dance group. Since 1998 they have been active in the international arena under the guidance of the 'grand old lady' of African dance, Germaine Acogny.
Fagaala, which means genocide in wolof, is a contemporary dance drama inspired by the horrific Rwandan genocide of 1994. Based on Senegalese writer Boubacar Boris Diop’s fictional account of the atrocities, Fagaala is a powerful work of beauty and dynamism from Compagnie Jant-Bi. Choreographed by Jant-Bi artistic director Germaine Acogny and Japanese choreographer Kota Yamazaki, Fagaala combines the physically strong form of Japanese Butoh with the more rhythmic elements of African dance.
Fagaala is performed by male dancers who look back on the tragedy and make clear that this is one case where history must never be allowed to repeat itself. They make their statement by way of powerful, explosive movements, during which they use sound not only as an expression of fear, pain and torture, but also of hope and love.
For further information read the full press release
01/10/07
Thousands Bid Farewell to Reggae Star, South Africa
Thousands crammed into the Bassline Theatre on Wednesday to bid farewell to music icon Lucky Phillip Dube who was gunned down outside his home last week.
Mr Dube was apparently shot and killed in a botched hijacking in Rosettenville, Johannesburg on Thursday.
Mr Dube was born on 3 August 1964 on a farm just outside the town, Ermelo. He was the third child of Sara Dube.
He was an artist that continued to break international barriers and recently signed a deal with Warner Music International securing the European release of his latest album "Respect".
For more information read the article in full at AllAfrica.com
24/10/07
Moving Boundaries
Rwandan director Dorcy Rugamba shares with Uchenna Izundu his experiences on staging The Investigation, a play about Auschwitz with Rwandan actors.
In an interview Dorcy says; I discovered this play on stage and immediately it struck me as incredibly topical even though it deals with events that date from the Second World War. Evidently, as I listened to the play, Rwanda came to mind at every moment. But it wasn’t just Rwanda, there was also the backdrop of modern society of which the Nazi genocide was one of the most extreme aspects. In short, it is a play about the genocide which is neither fascinated by the murders nor dedicated to solemn commemoration. The play exposes the facts clinically, methodically, and allows the public to draw their own conclusions about the stories. It is this method of giving responsibility to the audience that most appealed to me.
To read the whole interview visit the Africa Beyond website
15/11/07
African talent ready to wow the world, Durban
A celebration of the best of Africa's talent in music, theatre, dance and film is set to wow the
3 000 delegates and the world's media at the 2010 Soccer World Cup preliminary draw in Durban next week.
The Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre will host the function, which is being billed as one of the biggest events on South Africa's sporting calendar.
The draw, an undoubted highlight, takes place on November 25.
On the evening of the draw, some of Africa's finest entertainers will showcase their talent, demonstrating what the continent has to offer.
The world-famous Lion King musical will be performed and artists such as Freshly Ground, the Soweto String Quartet, Judith Sephuma, Senegal's Yousssou N'Dour, and the Afrotenors - Africa's answer to the Three Tenors, will also feature.
On November 23, the world premier of Anant Singh's movie More Than Just A Game, takes place.
The film recounts the story of the Makana Football Association, a group of political prisoners who started their own league on the notorious Robben Island.
President Thabo Mbeki, Fifa President Sepp Blatter, some of the best footballers of all time and representatives of more than 110 Fifa member associations will be present for the first major event in the build up to 2010.
The ceremony will feature the draw to determine the pairings and groups for the 2010 soccer world cup preliminary competition.
To read the full article visit the Cape Argus website
19/11/07
HHDS celebrates six decades
The Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society celebrates its 60th birthday with "Africa, my Africa", a musical revue until December 13 at the Playhouse Theatre in Somerset West. The show tells the story of the settlement of the Cape and highlights some of the history of SA in snapshot form. Tickets are R45 with discounts for pensioners and block bookings.
The story starts off before Bartholomew Diaz arrived in 1486, and takes us through the settlement of the Cape and South Africa, the arrival of the British and the Boer War. We then go through the 1st and 2nd World Wars, up to date. Much of the music used is written by South Africans and includes English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa songs.
To read the full article visit the Helderberg website
07/12/07
Taking risks onstage, with varying success
The British theater director Katie Mitchell presumably never met a text on which she hasn't wanted to effect radical change, her auteurist zeal inevitably making whatever the production at least as much about her as it is about Chekhov, Strindberg, Virginia Woolf, or whomever. The results can be thrilling, as with her adaptation last year for the National Theatre of Woolf's "The Waves" or a prior National take on "Three Sisters" that located new reserves of power and pain within Chekhov's extraordinary play. In 2004, she directed a rarely seen Euripides play, "Iphigenia at Aulis," at the National, where she is back again, this time with Euripides' better-known "Women of Troy." Purists be forewarned: this won't be an evening for you. For my part, I'm quite happy to have a change from the oracular, vaguely pompous approach to the classical canon that you tend to find in London when, say, the director Jonathan Kent is paired with the actress Diana Rigg on stagings that virtually have "Give me a Tony Award" stamped on every scene. Mitchell, by contrast, doesn't work with stars, and she doesn't seem especially interested in the text per se. Instead, she uses whatever the play is to release what presumably she takes to be the particular energies of that script. With "Women of Troy," that means transforming Euripides' view of the grim aftermath of conflict into a sensory exploration of psychic and physical dislocation, whereby the ambient mood and soundscape of the production are as important as the language itself.
Written by Matt Wolf. To read the full article visit the International Herald Tribute website
07/12/07
Cabaret Africa Premiers At Maitisong
Despite poor financial backing, Letsatsi Dance Theatre managed to premier one of their productions, Cabaret Africa.
According to Letsatsi Dance Theatre director Jean-Raul Austin de Drouillard, the cabaret infuses drama, dance and song.
Cabaret Africa partly tells the tale of how Africa influenced the arts across the globe. The haunting cabaret opens with a scene capturing people on a hunting expedition during pre-colonial Africa. From there, there is a village scene, which showcases African men and women doing specific chores and much later the elderly retire to make love.
From there the show takes revellers through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade when Africans were forcibly shipped to the Americas, under appalling conditions, to work in cotton and sugar came plantations.
Most of the slaves took comfort in spirituality and music and out of their plight came some of the greatest genres like Negro spirituals, jazz, blues and samba, salsa as showcased in the cabaret. To sum it up all that, one of the characters says, "Our gods did not forsake us."
From there, the cabaret takes revellers back to post-colonial Africa where religious sects that mix traditional African religions and Christianity are coming up with captivating spirituals.
Cabaret Africa showcases one of the 'sects' dressed in blue and white garments, singing the popular spiritual, It is well with my soul, among others.
To read the full article visit the Mmegi Online website
11/12/07
World Drama: Nature Calls
The second of the two First Prize-winning plays in the BBC World Service 2007 International Playwriting Competition is a comedy by Bolaji Odofin of Nigeria.
Ngozi is an Ibo girl whose father was killed in a religious riot. Ibrahim is the son of the local Imam. They meet and secretly fall in love. When the affair becomes public, their parents predictably object to it. In the meantime, their mutual friend's father is convinced they're all in a play anyway.
Bolaji Odofin's delightful comedy is the winner of the Frst Prize in the 2007 International Playwriting Competition English as a Second Language category.
Nature Calls is Bolaji's third stab at the prize. When she writes, which, she says isn't as often as she'd like, she waits for a magical connection with her characters. Sometimes it doesn't happen. But when it does she finds they take up their own lives and live it while she merely chronicles events.
With Nature Calls the connection was immediate and powerful and it took four days to write from start to finish. "That the play won is a tremendous bonus" says Bolaji. "I thank God for it.".
To read the full article or to hear a clip of the play visit the BBC World Service
14/12/07
Statement of Regret
Kwame Kwei-Armah’s Statement of Regret, the final part of his triptych for the National Theatre, is about the past and its effect on contemporary black British identity.
The drama is set in a black political think tank whose founder Kwaku Mackenzie, played with candour by Don Warrington (Rising Damp), is filled with grief over the recent death of his father.
As Kwaku increasingly hits the rum bottle, his appearance becomes ever more dishevelled and his unifying leadership of the think tank disintegrates. His decline culminates at the end of the first half in a drunken TV appearance during which he states that “black people should be more racist” and only those of Caribbean descent should be awarded reparations for slavery.
To read the full article visit Africa Beyond
14/12/07
UK’s 1st Black Heritage Fair, Birmingham
Throughout 2007 new landmarks and records have been set in honour of Black Heritage. To end the year, the Black History Foundation presents the UK’s 1st Black Heritage Fair at the Think Tank, Millennium Point in Birmingham on Saturday 8th December 07.
Offering a new approach to the celebration of Black Heritage in the UK, the Fair will consist of a variety of workshops and a business fair and exhibit expected to attract up to 1000 people from across the UK.
Entertainment will be provided by a variety of UK acts to support and highlight the contribution of organisations / groups in the 12 UK regions.
An ideal day out for the family, come along and enjoy all that Black Heritage has to offer. You may find a great Christmas present!
8th December 2007
For more information visit Black History Foundation.
08/11/07
Action! Nollywood in Cyberspace
Nollywood, the current boom in the Nigerian film industry. The appellation ‘Nollywood’ has been adopted as the official title of Nigeria’s home video business. With the production of over fifty movie titles per week, the industry is fast commanding global attention, and is being seen as a great cultural contribution to the international community. The ‘Nigerian Phenomenon’, as Nollywood is sometimes called, is believed to be the third biggest film industry in the world. Analysts say it is worth over £80 million annually. The early 21st century heralded the birth of ‘pro-Nollywood’ websites. Shrouded in anonymity, fans and critics assemble in an online forum to articulate their hopes and aspirations of the film industry. Some of the popular sites include: “Naijarules”, “Nollywood.net” and “Nairaland”. In these virtual spaces, fans are able to post ‘threads’ and replies about anything relating to Nollywood. There are moderators that monitor interaction and members have private message boxes and avatars. The internet has been seen as a veritable arena for social interaction, and a market place of some sorts. Members of online communities have tapped the advantage of this new medium to entertain, educate and inform one another about the home video industry that is Nollywood.
For further information visit the BBC Africa Beyond website
30/09/07
Creative Collaborations... announcement of award recipients
Supported by Visiting Arts in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), 2007 Creative Collaborations programme encourages collaborations between African artists and UK participants in education and the community.
This year, we are pleased to announce that they have been granted to support three exciting projects by:
Africa Oye Liverpool
Taliesin Arts Centre Swansea
Akaraaka London and Liverpool
Details of the projects will feature in next month's issue and on the Visiting Arts website
18/09/07
The New Art Exchange to open in Nottingham in 2008
The New Art Exchange is a new contemporary art centre, situated in the heart of Nottingham’s most diverse and vibrant communities, whose mission is to serve an international community from roots firmly embedded in the local. Due to open in 2008, it will provide a dynamic, inclusive and welcoming space for contemporary multi-cultural arts practice development in visual, performing and participative arts.
The New Art Exchange places African, African Caribbean and South Asian contemporary arts practice at the forefront of contemporary arts thinking, locally, regionally, nationally.
If you are interested in influencing the future practice of this International Arts Centre for African, African Caribbean and South Asian arts the New Art Exchange is inviting you to join them in Creative Conversation.
Open to ALL art forms and ALL practitioners, for example artists, curators, audience development and marketing personnel who have been involved in the development of African, African Caribbean and South Asian Contemporary Arts practice or who are from those communities. There are 10 conversations throughout the year. Fees paid. Deadlines apply.
To be a part of this exclusive event email conversations@thenewartexchange.org.uk for an application pack. For any further information call Nicole Bayes on 07814 629784 or see http://www.myspace.com/creativeconversations.
Places are limited but all applicants will automatically be invited to join the Debate Forum at the New Art Exchange Launch Event in May/June 2008.
13/09/07
Call for Applications - Residencies in Africa
Applications are invited for three residencies in the UK at Gasworks London and three in South Africa and Kenya, starting in January 2008, for African and UK based artists.
Africa Beyond aims to keep African culture in a central position within the modern UK landscape, through its website and other media, lively public events, and now through a series of residencies in Africa for contemporary artists beginning in January 2008.
Three UK-based artists will be hosted on two- and three-months residencies by Kuona Trust/Godown Centre (Nairobi, Kenya), Bag Factory (Johannesburg, South Africa) or Greatmore Studios (Cape Town, South Africa).
Established and emerging contemporary visual artists from the UK, who have not worked in Kenya or South Africa before, are invited to apply for this programme.
Applications must state which residency/institution the artist would like to become involved in.
Please click here to read further information, details of eligibility, and application procedure.
Application deadline: 1st October 2007; for further info see the Africa Beyond website.
13/09/07
Rwanda: can art bring peace?
Simon Bikindi is currently standing trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), facing charges for war crimes committed during the country's 1994 genocide. Bikindi is a former Rwandan pop musician whose anti-Tutsi songs were regularly broadcast over the notorious Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines.
But if music can be used to incite genocide, it can also be used to create peace and a climate of reconciliation. Thirty students, teachers, and artists headed to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, in July as part of a joint program run by the School of Theater at the California Institute for the Arts in the United States and the Interdisciplinary Genocide Studies Center in Rwanda.
Erik Ehn, dean of the School of Theater and co-founder of the programme, believes that art has a very large part to play in Rwanda's reconciliation efforts. "Art is the way we create, organize, and disseminate ideas of who we are," he said. "Art can be used for a very negative purpose as it was during the genocide with Simon Bikindi. Yet in the same way art can be used to redefine us, or to re-own history."
See www.allafrica.com for the full story.
11/09/07
Mandela's statue placed in Parliament Square
 Nelson Mandela visited Parliament Square yesterday to attend the unveiling of his statue alongside other prominent figures such as Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln. Mr Mandela, the former South African president and Nobel prize winner, said his statue's presence in the square held a greater significance than a mere personal honour. "Although this statue is of one man it should in actual fact symbolise all those who have resisted oppression, especially in my country," he said. "The history of the struggle in South Africa is rich with the stories of heroes and heroines, some of them leaders, some of them followers. All of them deserve to be remembered. We thank the British people once again for their relentless efforts in supporting us during the dark years." |
To read the complete Guardian article online, click here.
30/08/07
BME theatre groups react against culture minister's inclusion claims
Newly appointed culture secretary James Purnell has come under fire from leading figures in the black theatre sector after he claimed inclusion in the arts could not be 'taken for granted' according to The Stage. In his initial policy statement earlier this month, Purnell announced that he intended to re-examine 'target culture', and later told The Guardian that the battle had been won when it came to meeting quotas relating to priority groups such as ethnic minorities. However, companies working within the BME sector, including Africa Consortium members Nitro and Theatre Royal Stratford East, have hit back at these claims, insisting that there is still work to be done in terms of ethnic minority participation and access.
For the full article in this week's The Stage, click here.
27/07/07
Rainbow Consultation on European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 08
Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue has announced a “Rainbow Paper”: recommendations to help shape a cross-cutting and effective agenda for Intercultural Dialogue for Europe. This consultation asks eight questions on how to make intercultural dialogue happen more. It solicits answers from a broad range of civil society actors with experience of, or interest in, intercultural dialogue. The collective result will be the basis for a dissemination campaign in the course of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008. Your contribution to this public consultation can be sent via email. Click here for further details.
Deadline for participation: Wednesday 22nd August 2007
27/07/07
Video Showcase launched by Euclid
Euclid have recently announced the launch of the pilot phase of http://showcase.culture.info, an online database facility for cultural practitioners to post video clips of their work and productions.
Showcase is designed to help arts and cultural organisations looking for:
· audiences or visitors or sales
· exposure for possible bookings
· venues where they can perform or exhibit
· touring product to book for their venue
· partners for collaborative projects
· studios or residencies
Euclid will shortly be adding whatson.culture.info aimed at the public – who can access the same database of clips to help them decide what to see or visit, or to help them book artists or venues for their own activities.
This is a free service and since it is a relatively new initiative, it is still developing in terms of structure, content and promotion. They would therefore be very grateful for your contributions and feedback, so for further information and to find out how you can post details about your own productions or cultural activities, click here.
Michelle also has a copy of the user instructions for Showcase in the office, so if you have any difficulties using the portal, do e-mail Michelle to request a copy of these instructions.
26/07/07
In Memoriam: Sekou Sundiata
The poet and performance artist Sekou Sundiata passed away last week. Sundiata created the acclaimed theatre works The Circle Unbroken is a Hard Bop, which toured throughout the U.S. and received three AUDELCO Awards and a Bessie Award; The Mystery of Love, commissioned and produced by New Voices/New Visions at Aaron Davis Hall in New York and the American Music Festival in Philadelphia; Udu, a music theatre work produced at 651 ARTS, the International Festival of Arts and Ideas, and the Walker Art Center amongst other venues; and The 51st Dream State which he performed at the Vision Festival, the BAM Next Wave Festival, and the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. His most recent recording, Long Story Short, was released by Righteous Babe Records.
Grounded in the African American experience, Sundiata used his talents to help us explore who we are, and what makes for a life filled with meaning and beauty.
25/07/07
Zimbabwean Cultural Network Spreads to South Africa
African Synergy -- a pan-African cultural network of artists, festivals, venues and promoters founded last year -- will next week launch its operations in South Africa. With its base at Kippies Jazz Club in Newtown, Johannesburg - the joint that is partnered by the popular Book Café in Harare - Africa Synergy will seek to break the insidious legacy of cultural isolation within Africa.
"Contemporary African societies are, from a historical and cultural perspective, fragmented from each other. Our literary products barely cross borders. African performing artists in music, dance and theatre are mostly unknown regionally within Africa, except for a tiny number first promoted in Europe," Pen Yon, an official with Pamberi Trust, that runs the Book Café, said. Yon said that South Africans would be hard pressed to name even a single Zambian writer, Malawian music star, Mozambican sculptor, Kenyan dance troupe, Tanzanian film or Zimbabwean actor. "The converse is equally true. Yet the cultural diversity and richness of Africa is considered a valuable resource in the arts worlds of London, Paris and New York," she explained.
African Synergy was re-asserting Africa's cultural hegemony and togetherness that was itself a catalyst for artistic diversity almost beyond comprehension. The synergy recognises Africa's cultures that are infused with each other's artistic innovations. The pulse of Congolese rhumba, the transcendent voice of South African jazz, the timeless literary craft of Nigeria and Kenya, the dream-inspired stone sculpture of Zimbabwe, Senegalese djembe, Malian kora, Zambian marimba, Zimbabwean mbira, South African mbube and omaskanda are all in their own way an outcome of the mingling, mixing and cross-fertilisation on a giant African canvas of historic migrations and movement.
Under its African Tour Circuit project, African Synergy is building on a network that in its one year of existence extends between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to Dakar, Harare, Maputo, Kampala, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, Maputo, Accra, Cairo and Ibadan.
African artists promoted within Africa by ATC to date include Kwani Experience, Oliver Mtukudzi, Papa Susso, Kelly Rusike, Victor Mavedzenge, Shiyani Ngcobo, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Max Wild, Julius Chingono, Netsayi Chigwendere, Kirenga Karengera, Nii Noi, Judith Todd, Umanji and many others. The Senegalese music legend Omar Pene and Le Super Diamono supported by emerging South African artist Nathi Gcabashe will perform during the launch next Thursday.
Meanwhile, as part of the forum's expansion, Marimba: African Review of Arts will be launched later this year as a regional pan-African forum of arts reviews and cutting-edge debate.
To visit the African Synergy website and find out more about the network, click here.
16/07/07
Source: The Herald (Harare), 22 June 2007
BBC delves into Brazilians' African roots
The Brazilian Service of the BBC has undertaken a project called Afro-Brazilian roots that explores the complex heritage of Brazil's population by testing the DNA of nine celebrities and analysing their genetic ancestry. Brazil has more people with black ancestry than any other nation outside Africa, and its mix of Indians, Africans and Europeans gave rise in the past to the claim that the country was a "racial democracy". But it is also a country where black people remain socially disadvantaged.
The results of the DNA tests surprised many by showing that skin colour does not necessarily reflect the ancestry of a person's genetic make-up. Sergio Pena, professor of biochemistry at the Federal University of Belo Horizonte, who led the genetic analysis, explained the apparent contradiction. "Only a few genes are responsible for someone's skin colour, which is a very poor indication of ancestry. A white person could have more African genes than a black one or vice-versa, especially in a country like Brazil," he said.
Musician Seu Jorge found that although 85% of his genes are African, the rest are European, confirmation that he is, as he put it "also the son of the guilty ones" - a descendant of the European slave-owners who had children with their African slaves. Another musician, Sandra de Sa was happy though to find out she was about 93% African. "I can't believe I'm almost 100% African. I usually jokingly say that I can still feel the chains around my ankles," said the singer, concluding that despite its racial tensions, Brazil could teach the world how different races can integrate.
13/07/07
Source: BBC Brasil
New African-owned UK and US TV channels target diaspora Africans
Two new African content channels – one in the USA and the other in the UK - are fighting hard to get the attention of Africa’s diaspora populations. US-based African channel Africast calculates that the “addressable” market in the US is the 8 million homes with broadband access lived in by African-born or African-American citizens and aims to reach 240,000 subscribers within 5 years. Africast (www.africast.tv) is run by a Ghanaian-American called John Sarpong and describes itself as “the world’s leading subscription-based broadcaster of African ethnic television over broadband as measured by the number of African ethnic channels under agreement (40 channels from 25 African countries as of June 2007)”. Africast has secured the rights (mostly exclusive) to distribute television and film content, sports and music from Africa. Approximately 70-75% of current subscribers are Africans living in the USA and Europe and the remaining 15-20% are non-Africans like African-Americans. As Sarpong says:”We define this (latter) category as ‘African culture fans’”. Interestingly around 40% use their laptops to access material and these tend to be the younger users. The rest are families who watch the television in the more traditional setting of the living room.
In the UK, The African Movie Channel (AMC) is run by two former Nigerian computers engineers. It has recently made its movies available online at www.africanmoviechannel.com. According to AMC’s Yinka Maungbo:”Hundreds of Nollywood and other African movies are now just a mouse-click away, for viewers to watch on their PC and TV whenever they like! Viewers can enjoy the fine works of some of Africa's best producers and directors, including Tunde Kelani, Charles Novia, Fred Amata, Chico Ejiro, Paul Igwe, and many more.” All content is in English, or sub-titled in English.
There do not yet appear to be equivalent diaspora niche channels for French and Portuguese-speaking African diaspora populations but industry experts are predicting that it is only a matter of time.
12/07/07.
Source: Balancing Act
Hosts sought for screenings of DIASPORA DIARIES
Diaspora Diaries is a creative legacy of work commissioned by Creative Fruits and created in the Africa 05 season of arts and culture, written and directed by Robert ‘Beyonder’ Asare. It is a feature length documentary that uniquely captures the authentic voice of Africans of the Diaspora living in London.
The 2007 goal for the initiative is to show the film at 600 screenings across the UK & internationally. Creative Fruits is therefore seeking creative partnerships with festivals, organisations and/or community groups in the arts, education, cultural heritage and film sectors to screen Diaspora Diaries to ensure the widest possible appreciation of this documentary in the UK & Internationally. A creative education programme is also available to support the film where possible. For more information on how to get involved, or to host a screening please contact the executive producer Ameena M. McConnell by email – info@creativefruits.net, placing DD screening in the subject box.
"…adds new insight into the ongoing dialogue between identity and resistance."
Quote from Dr. Robert Beckford, Diaspora Diaries screening and Director’s Q&A with Beyonder, The Drum, Birmingham, 17 June 2007
Click here to view Diaspora Diaries synopsis and trailer.
And click here to view more information about the screening programme.
11/07/07
Africa Consortium UK appoints first steering group members
We are delighted to announce that SuAndi, from Black Arts Alliance, and Felix Cross, director of Nitro, have agreed to become inaugural members of the Africa Consortium UK's steering group. They will join the 4 core partners of the consortium in guiding the direction of the consortium and will be instrumental in ensuring the consortium caters for the needs of its members.
10/07/07
'Manufacturing Diversity' research awarded European grant
The winner of the Cultural Project Research Award 2007 is Amanda Brandellero, PhD Student at the University of Amsterdam, specializing on economic geography at the Amsterdam Institute of Metropolitan and International Development Studies (AMIDST).
Her cultural policy research project 'Manufacturing diversity? Ethnicity and the commodification of culture in the cultural industries' will shed light on the creative inputs of ethnic minorities to the development of cultural industries. It will also explore how cities can use cultural diversity as a vital resource for prosperity and potential catalyst for social-economic development. The research involves case-study analysis of ethnic diversity in three cultural industries sectors (architecture, fashion and music) in three cities: Amsterdam, London and Paris.
Amanda Brandellero (British/Italian researcher) was granted the Euro 10.000 award on 8 June at the culture.powers.europe conference in Berlin gathering more than 500 participants from across Europe.
The Cultural Policy Research Award is an initiative of the ECF and Riksbankens Jubileumfonds.
10/07/07
Africa Beyond seeks writers
Call for writers: Do you have a passion for African Dance, visual arts or film? Have you got a flair for writing great copy for the web? If yes, then Africa Beyond is looking for you. If you would like to write for the site then please contact them with a sample piece of your writing and short bio (150 words) - Africabeyond@bbc.co.uk
05/07/07
Africa Consortium prompts front page coverage
The Africa Consortium UK has made the front page of the June 2007 edition of the TMA magazine Prompt. The edition features a six-page article written by Jan Ryan, director of UK Arts International, about the process and thinking behind establishing the consortium. Turn to page 24 of your edition to read the article in full, or get in touch with the TMA to obtain your copy of the magazine! If you'd like an electronic copy via e-mail, get in touch with michelle@ukarts.com.
22/06/07
Father of modern African writing wins 2007 Man Booker International Prize
Chinua Achebe has been announced as the winner of the second Man Booker International Prize. The Man Booker International Prize is awarded once every two years to a living author for a body of work that has contributed to an achievement in fiction on the world stage. It was first awarded to Ismail Kadaré in 2005.
Achebe is probably best known for his first novel, Things Fall Apart, written in 1958 and Anthills of the Savannah, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1987. Chinua Achebe comments: "It was 50 years ago this year that I began writing my first novel, Things Fall Apart. It is wonderful to hear that my peers have looked at the body of work I have put together in the last 50 years and judged it deserving of this important recognition. I am grateful."
Achebe was born in 1930 and educated at the Government College in Umuahia and at the University College of Ibadan, Nigeria. He joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Company in Lagos in 1954 and during 1956 studied broadcasting at the BBC, in London. A diplomat in the ill-fated Biafran government of 1967-1970, Achebe's work is primarily centred on African politics, the depiction of Africa and Africans in the West, and the intricacies of pre-colonial African culture and civilization, as well as the effects of colonialisation on African societies. He has lectured at many universities worldwide and is now Charles P Stevenson Jr Professor of Languages and Literature at Bard College, Annandale, New York State.
Many African writers have been inspired by Achebe’s work. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who won the Orange Prize for Fiction last week for Half A Yellow Sun is one of them, recently commenting: “He is a remarkable man. The writer and the man. He's what I think writers should be."
The judging panel for the 2007 Man Booker International Prize is: Professor Elaine Showalter, academic and author; Nadine Gordimer, writer and novelist; and writer and academic, Colm Tóibin. Chinua Achebe will receive the prize of £60,000 and a trophy at the Award Ceremony on 28 June 2007 at Christ Church in Oxford.
14/06/07
African Poems on the Underground
London Underground has launched its first ever series of African poems on the underground. The new series of poems, by writers from Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa range from the 19th century to the present day. The poems are part of Word from Africa: a festival created by Africa Beyond and partners to celebrate the diversity and power of African languages in literature, music and other arts.
Poet Nii Ayikwei Parkes , 33, was inspired to write Tin Roof to show his gratitude of the roof of his own home, which survived torrential rain storms in the north of Ghana. Mr Parkes was born in England, but grew up in Ghana and moved back to London in 2001. He lived in the south of Ghana and experienced the extremes of the north’s weather while teaching biology and chemistry in the area. Nii Ayikwei Parkes said: "This collection of poems shows that humanity is universal. We have the same fears and joys so I hope the poetry on the Tube will lead to people seeking out more African writing. Being a writer in Africa is considered as signing your life away as there is no money in it, but once there is more demand for African poetry and literature, then more people might consider becoming writers rather than lawyers and doctors and a swell of good writing could emerge as a result."
The poems appear in trains on posters that feature a unique Ghanaian textile design from the British Museum.
Tamsin Dillon, Head of Platform for Art: “These poems are particularly relevant as this year marks the bicentenary of the 1807 British Abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade." Passengers should look out for the poems across the whole Tube network.
08/06/07
Applications required for British Council's InterAction Programme
Your chance to InterAct with Africa – the British Council is looking for 20 outstanding people to join the InterAction Leadership Programme in the UK.
“The one who asks questions will never be lost” [Yoruba saying, Nigeria]
Do you want to work with and learn from other leaders? Do you want to be part of building new relationships between Africa and the rest of the world? We’re looking for 20 outstanding people to join this inspirational and unique Leadership Programme that will help you understand your role as a leader, increase your impact in your community, and learn from your peers in Africa and the UK.
The magic of the InterAction UK Leadership Programme is in the diversity and difference of its participants. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. The closing date for applications is 1700 on Friday 22 June 2007.
Further information, including guidance notes and application forms can be downloaded from the British Council website , or alternatively, please contact:
Katherine Sargent
InterAction UK Programme Manager
British Council
10 Spring Gardens
London SW1A 2BN
Tel + 44 20 7389 4158
Fax + 44 20 7389 4525
E-mail Katherine.sargent@britishcouncil.org
08/06/07
Nigerian author wins Orange Prize for Fiction
Source: Metro, 07/06/07
Booksellers target BME readers
Book stores in London and Birmingham are joining forces in a unique pilot initiative to target black and minority ethnic (BME) audiences.Borders, Books Etc., WH Smith, Waterstone's, Foyles and Bonds of Birmingham are teaming up with decibel, Arts Council England's diversity initiative, in response to research published by The Bookseller last year, which revealed that the book industry lacks confidence in marketing to Britain's BME population. The 'Books For All' initiative will see more than 70 bookshops presenting in-store author events, window displays and point-of-sale material. Well-loved best sellers, such as White Teeth by Zadie Smith and Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, will be featured alongside newer work such as Wish You Were Here by Mike Gayle, Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Londonstani by Gautam Malkani.
Source: Arts Professional, 04/06/07
Mzansi Sings, A Tribute to Oliver Tambo at the Barbican & Catford
Mzansi Sings is a tribute to one of the South Africa’s outstanding leaders, Oliver Reginald Tambo. He played an unparalleled role in the growth and development of the African National Congress (ANC) leading the mobilization of the whole world against apartheid and its policies. After three decades in exile he returned to South Africa in 1991. He died in 1993 a year before the new democratic Republic of South Africa came into being.
Mzansi Sings is a spectacular celebration of South Africa’s musical heritage. For this production original choral melodies were rearranged and given a contemporary jazz feel by the legendary composer, conductor and bassist Victor Ntoni for an ensemble consisting of an 18 piece big band, a 10 piece string section, two choirs as well as traditional musicians and dancers. The composers include Joshua Polumo Mohapeloa, Benjamin Peter John Tyamzashe, Nathan Sidyiyo, Todd Tozama Matshikiza (composer of the music and lyrics for King Kong, the all-black musical that became a nationwide hit in 1959) and John Knox Bokwe, one of the country’s most celebrated Xhosa hymn writers.
Venue: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Date: Friday 22nd June
Time: 7.30
Ticket Price: £15.00
Box Office: 020 7638 8891
Website: www.barbican.org.uk
Venue: The Broadway Theatre, Catford Broadway, Catford SE6
Date: Saturday 23rd June
Time: TBC
Box Office: 020 8690 0002
Website: www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk
WORD FROM AFRICA festival launched by BBC's Africa Beyond
Africa Beyond is happy to announce the launch of Word from Africa, a London-wide celebration of Africa and its many languages and cultures – in literature, music and arts - taking place across London in the week of 2-10 June. Word from Africa will be a London-wide celebration of Africa and its many languages and cultures– in literature, music and arts.
The continent of Africa is home to up to 2,000 languages, many of them spoken in homes and neighbourhoods across London. 2,000 languages: each one a door into a different world. Each language unlocks its own state of mind – its own music, literature, rhythms, history, food, sayings, stories.
You don’t need to speak any of these languages to enjoy the Word from Africa week – everything takes place either in English, or with English translations. Many of the featured authors write in English, but this week they will have a chance to share how their African mother tongue has shaped the way they think and write. And you’ll hear some of the best music on the planet, which needs no translation!
Africa Beyond is hosting this exciting week together with lots of partners, big and small. The launch event will be held at the British Museum on 2 June (12noon - 8pm). This will be followed by a week of intimate performances at African restaurants and other venues around London – your chance to enter some of London’s hidden worlds. Behind a door in Kilburn or Islington or Bethnal Green you may suddenly find yourself in Eritrea or Ghana or Uganda – where you can taste new music, stories and food.
Watch the Africa Beyond website for more details soon.
30/04/07Art imitates life at controversial opening ceremony of HIFA
08/05/07
Images of freedom are displayed for the first time
Sphinx off the East African coast. Jacquie Shaw, of the museum, said: "The collection comprises a fascinating and important snapshot of life on anti-slavery duties of the coast of Africa." The exhibition, entitled Chasing Freedom: The Royal Navy and the Suppression of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, runs until January. For further details, please visit the museum's website
Source: The Times, 30/04/07
Slave names online
British slavery records have been made available online for the first time. The collection dates back to the abolition of slavery and includes records on three million slaves in the Caribbean, South Africa and Ceylon. Approximately 186,000 pages of names are included, dating from between 1815 and 1834. Click here to visit the online record site.
Source: The Times, 27/04/07
Africa Consortium UK featured in the press
The Africa Consortium UK features in this week's Arts Professional magazine and on the BBC's Africa Beyond website.
26/03/07
South Africa wins bid to host World Summit on Arts & Culture
The eyes of the culture world will be on South Africa as the country prepares to host the fourth World Summit on Arts and Culture in 2009. The International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) announced that Johannesburg has won the bid to host one of the most significant events in the international arts calendar.
The Summit, which will be held on 21-25 September 2009, will focus on the role of public arts policies in meeting the wider challenges facing the world - economic, social and cultural. South Africa is a world-leading example of achieving intercultural dialogue through the arts and IFACCA has chosen it as a stage to explore the issue in depth.
The event will see key people in arts policy drawn from arts funding agencies and cultural organizations around the world to discuss the impact of arts and culture policies with a special focus on the developing world. The Summit will also provide opportunities for networking between cultural organizations within Africa. Best practices will be explored and opportunities provided for delegates to create new connections and collaborations. An announcement of the approach to be taken to the Summit will be made on Africa Day (May 25th), and the IFACCA board will discuss the Summit theme and program at its meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on 15th March.
To read the press release in full on the IFACCA website click here .
13/03/07
Decibel showcase 2007: advance registration opens
The 3rd decibel Performing Arts Showcase is due to take place in Birmingham this year, providing a unique opportunity for delegates to see over 40 of England's most talented performing artists and companies of African, Asian* and Caribbean descent.
The showcase will be kicked off by a one day International Symposium on Monday 3 September. Specifically designed for both national and international delegates, this symposium will feature presentations and seminars led by well-respected and renowned professionals from the world of arts and culture. Full programme details will be available in April at www.decibelpas07.co.uk.
Advance registration has now opened, and delegates who register before the end of June receive a £50 discount on the registration fee of £150, and you can register through the decibel website by clicking on the link above.
* Asian in this context refers to all countries from Turkey in the West to Japan in the East.
13/03/07