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At the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, the Congo basin was allocated to King Leopold the second by the European powers carving up the African continent. Since then, the country has had many names - the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Zaire, Congo-Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo - and at least as many conquerors, independence fighters, explorers and dictators. ‘Congo does not exist. It is only a river and the big forest’, according to one of the French writer Éric Vuillard’s characters in his documentary novel Congo. In this ode to his homeland, Faustin Linyekula reflects on this claim, continuing his lifetime exploration of his country. Together with Pasco Losanganya and Daddy Moanda Kamono, he gives his country a voice and a face using dance, text and sound. Please note: the 'meet the artist' after the show has been canceled download the programme book

Frascati programme associate artists

For two weeks Frascati theatre will be the home of associate artists William Kentridge and Faustin Linyekula. Alongside performances by themselves and artists who inspire them, there will be a lot of work from their studios.

Frascati programme associate artists

For two weeks Frascati theatre will be the home of associate artists William Kentridge and Faustin Linyekula. Alongside performances by themselves and artists who inspire them, there will be a lot of work from their studios.

These presentations show the importance of Kentridges The Centre for the Less Good Idea and Linyekula’s Studios Kabako, and how they function. There will be a unique and exciting programme in which the boundaries between various artforms disappear. Also, we will be organising a series of debates, called The Welcome Table, in which themes from the presentations (that are also topical in the Netherlands) are discussed.

Kentridge and Linyekula use The Centre For The Less Good Idea and Studios Kabako to give both young and more experienced (performing) artists the space, opportunities and inspiration to work on their oeuvre. For Amsterdam they selected work using different criteria: Linyekula is giving two young artists the opportunity to test new work on Dutch audiences as works-in-progress; Kentridge selected presentations from all the seasons thus far been organised at The Centre.

Choose one or more parts of the programme and be surprised by performances that not only add a new perspective to Kentridge and Linyekula’s artistry, but also tell new stories – from intensely political reflections, exceptional childhood memories and attempts to create new myths for a new era.

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credits

artistic direction Faustin Linyekula text Eric Vuillard cast Daddy Kamono Moanda, Faustin Linyekula, Pasco Losanganya music Faustin Linyekula, Franck Moka light design Koceila Aouabed costumes Ignace Yenga coproduction Théatre de la Ville, Festival d’Automne à Paris, Le Manège, Manège - scène nationale de Reims, Ruhrtriennale, Vidy-Lausanne Theatre production Virginie Dupray, Studios Kabako with the support of the Centre National de la Danse – Pantin, KVS Brussels

This performance is made possible by