Description

Inspired by states of trance, the fetishist movements of the Nkisi*, and Congo’s rituals, Jolie Ngemi draws from her roots to develop a work that navigates the visible and invisible borders of magical and spiritual practices. Animist beliefs still hold a significant place in Congo, but their expression is a taboo shadow, hidden or even cursed in the face of Christianity, to which the population was forced to convert during colonization.

Convinced of the importance of these cultures as guiding principles in a world in crisis, Jolie Ngemi seeks to make the traditional Nkisi knowledge visible, to recall their beauty while rekindling their flame and healing power.

Today, who would be these powerful Nkisi women, mediators of occult forces, who once served as the secret advisors of kings? What remains of these practices, as most Nkisi statuettes were taken over the centuries and now reside in various museums of colonizing countries?

*Nkisi is a word in Lingala, Jolie Ngemi’s mother tongue, with many meanings. It can commonly refer to a « remedy, » « witch, witchcraft, » « medicine, » or denote a sacred fetish (statuette).

Chorégraphie et interprétation: Jolie Ngemi. Dramaturge: Jeremy Nedd. Scénographie: Laura Knüsel. Création lumière et régie générale: Alain Caron. Production, administration et diffusion: Moin Moin Production – Caroline Froelich.

Production: Cie AUC. Coproductions: Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, Kaserne Basel, STUK – Arts Center vzw, Charleroi-Danse – Centre chorégraphique de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, HAU Hebbel am Ufer. Soutiens: Ville de Lausanne, Loterie Romande, Canton of Basel-Landschaft, Fondation Ernst Göhner, Pro Helvetia- Soutien aux voyages de recherche.