Traces – Discours aux Nations Africaines

Africa on the move

Accompanied only by a kora player, a man uses the power of language to address the entire continent of Africa, displaying the dignity, benevolence and strength that radical revelations bring about. His speech reverberates like thunder with the youth of every African nation. With great fervour, he calls on each and every one to raise their heads and emancipate themselves, so that they can become the origin and driving force of a more humane future civilisation for the entire planet.

Traces is the galvanizing result of a meeting between two great minds of contemporary Africa: the visionary Senegalese economist and philosopher Felwine Sarr, and the eminent Burkinabe theatre artist Étienne Minoungou. Together, drawing upon History, the memory of peoples and intellectual integrity, they imagine the theatre as a space for prophecies and for sharing, where the world can literally be remade.

Produced by Théâtre de Namur

Written by Felwine Sarr

Directed by Étienne Minoungou

Performed by Étienne Minoungou + Simon Winsé

Outside Eye Aristide Tarnagda

Lighting Design Rémy Brans

Live Music Simon Winsé

Excutive Producer and Touring La Charge du Rhinocéros

Stage Manager Gaël Genette

Surtitles operation Karine Doucet Larouche

Co-produced by Festival Les Récréâtrales (Ouagadougou)

With the support of Fondation Von-Brochowski-Sud-Nord (Berlin) + Institut Français (Paris)

Presented in association with Maison Théâtre with the support of Wallonie-Bruxelles International

Premiered at Musée des Civilisations noires, Dakar, on December 5, 2018

Traces – Discours aux Nations Africaines is published by Éditions Actes Sud

North American première

Written by Paul Lefebvre

Translated by Jeff Moore