L'Afrique c'est Chic

"Not pretentious. The weaknesses of the actors becomes their strength. It'll take you from the beginning to the end because of the diversity and emotions ... No boredom ... Touching! It is very natural because it comes from the same actors ... Their Senegalese French goes well with the room, making it very personal." - Gérard Chenet, author

 

There are women
who die
while giving life
My mother died this way
and I took the risk
to come out
of her belly
that's my independence.

 

The tragicomic and absurd dance theatre production L'Afrique c'est chic is about the 50th anniversary of the independence of Senegal and the sadness of the French, the death of a Belgian cycling hero, a fallen angel and the sadness of the Belgians, about Senegalese tourism and the price Senegal pays for this. In brief, about dealing with loss, discovering consolation and redemption...And especially about the significance of (in)dependence.

Chokri Ben Chikha made this production in Senegal. He started his own ballet here: Le Ballet International du Senegal (B.I.S.), in memory of the grandmaster Maurice Béjart.

 

L'Afrique C'est Chic is the first part of the Heldendood voor de Beschaving trilogy. Three projects on heroic status: one in Senegal, one in the streets of Flanders and one in the theatre.