Overview

Faustin Linyekula’s work as a choreographer, dancer and founder of Studios Kabako in Kisangani is intimately tied to the artist’s engagement with his home country. His work Le Cargo (2011) focuses on the decades-long legacy of war, terror, fear and economic collapse endured by his family, friends and community. Here, Linyekula examines his personal struggle with the violent past of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that has seen its classification change from the Belgian Congo to Zaire to the DRC in the past sixty years.

In this self-choreographed solo performance, Linyekula moves, narrates and sings to original music composed by Obilo drummers and guitarist Flamme Kapaya. He is on a journey toward himself, searching for what ceases to exist – to dance and to speak of history through the body, while leaving words behind. With Le Cargo, Linyekula questions what it means to dance in the face of his country’s severe austerity and whether it makes a difference to do so.


All SAF events are free and open to the public