Afrovibes Talk: This is my body

How can you decolonize the black body? Both South-African dancer Kwanele Finch Thusi and theatre and dance director Igor Vrebac question the way how western society look at the male body. When is a body perceived as exotic, strong or vulnerable? With their work, they are building a new mythology of black and queer bodies and identities. We speak with both artists about their work and discuss the ways in which performance can reclaim the male body.

As black people, our bodies are still seen as exotic exhibitions for freedom. I ask the complicated questions in this work, what do you see when you look at me? With so much of conflict that arose in 2020 & 2021, the Black Lives Matter movement underpinned the necessity and purpose of this work.

Kwanele Finch Thusi

With a performance by singer, musician and songwriter Bahghi.

This programme is part of The Afrovibes festival. Would like to attend Afrovibes performance: Pina as well or dance on the beats of dj Allstar Fresh? Buy your Combi-Ticket here.

18:30 Afrovibes Talk: This is my body
20.30 Afrovibes performance: Pina (Duet)

Vanaf 21.30 draait Dj Allstar Fresh in de foyer.

About the speakers

Kwanele Finch Thusi is a teacher, entrepeneur and director. He teaches dance and youth development workshops in Sweden, Mozambique, Ghana, Kenya and Namibia. In dance he focuses on topics such as African queer identity, African diaspora and genealogy. Thusi is co-choreographer, story developer and coordinator for Netflix’s Dance Series ‘Jiva’ and released his first book entitled ‘Man Escaped’ which celebrates the body in all its forms and expressions. Kwanele Finch Thusi was elected Mr Africa International in 2021 and lives and works in Johannesburg.

Igor Vrebac (1986) graduated from acting and directing at the Amsterdam School of Arts (AhK) in 2012. He has performed in different theatre performances in the Netherlands and abroad, appeared in several Dutch TV series and film productions. In 2016, he directed his first physical theatre performance Macho Macho, for which he received the Dioraphte Best of Amsterdam Fringe award.