Afro_Vibes 2020: Entanglements
In times in which individualism and nationalism seems to flourish Afro_Vibes Festival 2020 central theme is “Entanglements”. For three days artists from all over the world come together in De Balie to exchange work and ideas, although they can’t physically be together. A three-day programme with presentations, talk shows and live streaming of performances (live and digital).
Thursday Oct 8 | 8 p.m. | Entanglements & Intersection
All humans feel the effects of the worldwide pandemic. How can we find each other in searching for solutions instead of isolating ourselves? And what is the role of art in this? How can we create in times of crisis? Jay Pather (curator of the Afro_Vibes Festival) opens the festival with a keynote on the central theme of this year’s festival, Entanglements. He enters into conversation with the Dutch poet & activist Jerry Afriyie, writer and actor Bright Richards and Nora Chipaumire, an internationally celebrated Zimbabwean choreographer and performer, living in New York. In her work she has been challenging and embracing stereotyps of Africa, the black performing body, art and aesthetics. We open the evening with video presentation of her recent work (Another) Township Manifesto.
Friday Oct 9 | 8 p.m. | Women leadership & LGBTQI+
This evening we bring together influential women directors and artists to discuss their best practices. We go beyond the problems that women and people from the LGBTQI+ community working in the cultural sector, experience. Instead we ask: What can we learn from you for the future of the arts scene? We open the evening with a short performance of Together, a work of choreographer Donna Chittick in which 4 female dancers embody the experiences and choices during the life of a woman. Intersectional queer and anti-racist activist Naomie Pieter who effortlessly mixes the organisation of protest rallies and designing choreographies gives a keynote on women leadership. Afterwards she enters into conversation with Donna Chittick and Tieneke Sumter, activist and a leading face of Survibes, a Surinam-Dutch LHBTQI+ group.
Saturday Oct 10 | 8 p.m. | Sustainable art in a post Covid-19 world
How sustainable is the art sector during the pandemic? How can artists continue to share their stories, in times when people feel the need to hear other people’s stories. In what ways will Covid-19 change the art sector on the long term? We start the evening with a short presentation of Le syndrome de l’exilé, a performance by Babacar Cissé in which he examines the human experience of exile. Saundra Williams, artistic leader of the education department Production and Stage Management (Amsterdamse academie voor theater en dans) will give a keynote lecture. Afterwards she will enter into conversation with Babacar Cissé and Jennifer Tosch, founder of the Black Heritage Tours.
About Afro_Vibes 2020
Entanglements / Inseparably Connected
While there are undeniably differences in language, culture, ways of living and communicating between the cultures of our world, there is a entanglement that encompasses all of us and which we are all part of. Even in moments of physical isolation for our safety, there is a sense of community. Because we know that an individual action by one of us can affect hundreds of us. We all go through this together and we can only solve it together. It is this interwovenness and associate intimacy that Afro_Vibes puts at the forefront this year.