Book presentation Scenic reading Discussion
The first anthology of the africologneFESTIVAL, founded in Cologne in 2011, provides insights into the diversity of voices, themes and aesthetics of contemporary drama from Benin, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Guinea, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Uganda and the diaspora. The nine texts, published in German translation for the first time, range from tragedy to satire, from dramatic poetry to neo-Western. Post- or neo-colonial themes are just as present as personal reflections and socio-political debates. Many authors question the history and politics of their home countries. The plays are complemented by an essay by Fatou Ghislaine Sanou (University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso), among others. With staged readings from the plays and discussion formats with the authors and translators, africologneANTHOLOGIE SPUREN, published by Theater der Zeit, will be presented for the first time at the africologneFESTIVAL 2025. The anthology with plays by Sinzo Aanza, Hakim Bah, Penda Diouf, Edoxi L. Gnoula, Sèdjro Giovanni Houansou, Asiimwe Deborah Kawe, Kagayi Ngobi, Dieudonné Niangouna, Aristide Tarnagda is edited by Kerstin Ortmeier, Kouam Tawa, Frank Weigand and Sarah Youssef. The search for identity and home, also on the basis of experiences of flight and/or terror, is dealt with in the plays, as are dehumanizing, anti-migrant discourses or complex (economic) entanglements between Europe and Africa – from the colonial era through (supposed) independence to the present day.
CURATION / MODERATION Kerstin Ortmeier, Kouam Tawa, Frank Weigand, Dr. Sarah Youssef | SCENIC DESIGN Shari Asha Crosson | PODIUMS & PUBLIC TALK WITH Sinzo Aanza, Edoxi L. Gnoula, Asiimwe Deborah Kawe, Kagayi Ngobi, Dieudonné Niangouna, Aristide Tarnagda
As part of the presentation of the anthology, there will be two further discussion events…
DISCUSSION THIS SIDE OF WRITING – ÉCRIRE DE CE COTÉ June 15, 7 pm following the production DE CE COTÉ please link to the discussion page
DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE LINES: THEATRE TRANSLATION DECOLONIAL THINKING June 16, 4:30 pm please link to the discussion page