WONDAR LAB II
SITE-SPECIFiC PERFORMANCES
MAY 2024
AT DAR ES SALAAM
THE FACILITATORS
VISUAL ARTIST COSTUME DESIGNER (SOMALIA - DJIBOUTi )
( MAY. 6th TO 10th, 2024)
In this workshop, participants up-cycled everyday materials into costumes and props, exploring how objects and textiles serve as living archives that retain and communicate memory. Inspired by fashion’s transformative power, participants will consider how clothing and design can resist invisibility, stereotyping, and erasure, using the body as a site of protest and visionary fiction.
Gouled Ahmed (b. 1992) is a Somali visual artist, costume designer, and director based in Addis Ababa, whose work centers on memory and belonging through self-portrait photography, film, and textile art. His creations envision new and equitable futures for the Horn of Africa, blending themes of futurity and identity. Gouled has received several prestigious awards, including the African Cultural Fund’s inaugural grant (2019) and the Prince Claus Fund’s Seed Award (2021). His work has been exhibited internationally at venues like the V&A Museum, London, the Brooklyn Museum, and the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
PERFORMING ARTIST & DIRECTOR - MOZAMBIQUE
MAY 12th TO 20TH, 2024
Coming back for a second time as part of the labs, Yuck Miranda now focuses on dramaturgy. Dramaturgy is the practice of shaping and structuring a performance, considering the different meanings of its elements—narrative, characters, design, and movement—to create a cohesive and impactful experience for the audience. In this lab, participants are encouraged to focus on their intentions and storylines while exploring the unique challenges of creating and presenting work outside the theater. This includes the exploration of site-specific performances, where the chosen location plays a vital role in shaping the work.
VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
3 LAB II VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
WOMEN MOUNTAIN
African women have always stood alongside men in various movements to liberate our continent, yet their contributions have often been overlooked in articles, books, political magazines, and even historical records. The efforts and struggles of women in Africa’s liberation must be remembered and honored, as this will empower current female leaders and inspire future generations.
Irene Themistocles Ruyakingira is a performing artist in the field of dance and choreograph from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. APart from her training, she has been collaborating with different choreographers and trainers who have been invited to teach and choreograph at the MuDa Africa School such as Johnny Autin (UK, France), Ian Mwaisunga (Tanzania), Robert Ngoroma (Tanzania), Yolanda Gutierrez (Germany, Mexico), Johannes Wieland (Germany)Julie Larisoa (Madagascar) Wesley Ruzibiza (Rwanda), Anna Bussey (Canada), Robert Guy (Norway/ England), Aida Colmenero Diaz (Spain/Senegal). She is dedicated to educating, empowering, encouraging and providing a platform for women through performing arts and art entrepreneurship. She received the Prince Claus Seed Award in 2023.
Fighting for the mic is a story about a young generation of musicians struggling to reach their dream in music career. The story reflects on the struggles to make a living in the music scene of Tanzania and the realities that artists face as musicians and artists.
Tina Manzala is a renowned singer and dynamic performing artist whose musical journey began in 2013. Since then, she has captivated audiences on various stages around the world, spreading love through her powerful expressions of singing and dancing. Throughout her career, Tina has collaborated with about six bands both locally and internationally, performing in locations from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar to Muscat, Oman. Currently, she leads and co-founded The Kongaz Band, based in Dar es Salaam. She has also independently recorded and released several original singles, showcasing her versatility and passion for music.
Naïma was a young girl from a poor family trying to run away from her environment. She fell into drugs as a way to escape her thoughts before tragically losing her life. With her new solo, Halima Masoud pays a tribute to Naïma and sheds light on the sensitive issue of drug addiction and its influence on young girls and women in Tanzania. Staged as a meditative battle with one’s addictive behaviour, the choreographer makes us reflect on our own relationship to substance abuse in our quest for a better life.
Halima Masoud is an emerging choreographer, performing artist, and yoga instructor from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She has been passionate about dance from a young age, drawing inspiration from urban street dances. Her dedication and talent led her to complete a three-year dance program with MUDA Africa in 2017. Since then, she has been actively creating dance works that address women’s issues in Tanzanian society. Halima has worked with organizations such as Humboldt Forum & Asedeva. In 2021, she received the Prince Claus Seed Award.