The 25th of May was Africa Day - first inaugurated in 1963 when the OAU was first formed. This year Khoi Gxam Productions in collaboration with the District Six Museum, the ITMSA and Chimurenga Magazine hosted an frica Day programme at the Museum which included a short lunch time, birthday tribute to James Matthews performed by Tauriq Jenkins, Keenan Herman, Lee Roodt and Phillip Cowie with musical accompaniment by Glen Arendse; as well as a performance of the play Progres' which is based on the life and work of Ken Saro-Wiwa and explores some of the issues that continue to affect the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.
The story is set in a fictional village which for all its specificity, could have been anywhere in Africa where issues of displacement, ethnicity, self interest and corruption are for the most part the order of the day as the lines between governance, politics and commerce continue to be blurred.
Audience reactions were positive and the event was an overall success although it is particularly telling that there were less than 100 people in attendance - and that for an event that was free! Maybe next time we should have loud music and alcohol instead?
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1 comment:
A fictional village that became very very tangible with the growing intensity in the audience. The words of the representative from the refugee centre gave hands, feet and personality to that very tangible village ... anywhere in Africa became the parking lot at Checkers or wherever it is that we will find survivors of displacement and the other plagues of Africa and South Africa ...
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