Nehanda
No justice, no peace
She bears her Africanness like a mantle. She rejects and deconstructs hierarchy, reconnecting with feminine power and spirituality. nora chipaumire is a major figure in international choreography who invites, welcomes, and disrupts.
In her most recent work, the rebellious Zimbabwean choreographer gathers twenty artists, musicians, singers, and dancers, in an epic production she has dubbed an opera, of approximately 5 h 30. Both a choreographed concert and a three-part ceremony, Nehanda denounces the trial by which Queen Victoria convicted Charwe Nyakasikana, a leader of the anti-colonialist movement in Rhodesia at the end of the nineteenth century. Chants and rhythm recount the tale of Nehanda, spiritual power of the Shona uprising. Together in the mythic space of revolt, audience and artists take part in history, resistance, and reparations.
About the artist
nora chipaumire (Mutare + New York + Berlin)
nora chipaumire first studied law, then performance, dance and choreography in Africa, Jamaica, Cuba, and the United States. Her performances have been presented worldwide, including France, Italy, Japan, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.
Media Coverage
“Nehanda provided an extraordinary multi-sensory experience that felt at times chaotic, but was never less than thrilling.”
Robert Johnson, NJArts.net (United States), 2022-09-20
« Dans cette pièce, le spectateur est immédiatement immergé dans un flot quasi continu de musique. »
Crystal Zrnjevic, Theatre Actu (France), 2022-10-27
« La recherche musicale est exceptionnelle. »
Fabien Rivière, Espaces Magnétiques (France), 2022-11-06
“Incarnating formidable female spirits has long been a specialty of this Zimbabwean-born choreographer and performer.”
Brian Seibert, The New Yorker (United States)
“[The Band] was an eight-piece ensemble that produced a rolling river of groove. The mbira, or thumb piano, provided the main current, joined by percussion and guitar and topped by vocals in many languages other than English: ululations, choral harmonies, the growl or patter of McIntosh Jerahuni, the clarion call of the wonderful Fatima Katiji.”
Brian Seibert, The New York Times (United States), 2022-09-18
Interview
“To do Nehanda I found myself needing a much more immersive re-education than just a return to Africa. In Zimbabwe, I’ve been working with a cultural and spiritual master, who in my context is a svikiro. They are born to hold and share culture, whether it’s through language or movement or sound and spirituality.”
Info
Théâtre ESPACE GOLength
5 h 30 approx.
In Shona, English, Ndebele, Ewe, Afrikaans, Kriolu
Sensitive Content
Stroboscopic effects
