Fanfare funérailles [Funeral brass]

overview

Papy Ebotani’s Fanfare funérailles [Funeral brass] (2014) explores a new type of funerary procession that has emerged in the urban centres of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which combines traditional Congolese rituals, neoevangelical practices, La Sape* movements and soukous ndombolo hits. The performance revisits the social function of funerals, their symbolic impact on communities and the ability of those living in big cities to invent and recycle practices in a place where people must struggle to sustain themselves.

Based on a text by young Congolese writer and choreographer Dorine Mokha, Fanfare funérailles incorporates dance, theatre, live music and the signifying dandyism of the sapeur to create a unique form of community and public address. Beginning with a procession that meanders through the streets of Sharjah gathering the public while encouraging their participation, Fanfare funérailles features Congolese rapper Shoggy Angoy, comedian Gaylor Yogolelo, sapeur Lesasa Jocker and local musicians on trumpet, mizmar and drums. The performance departs Arts Square for Calligraphy Square on 6 March at 4 pm. A second performance takes place on Al Majaz waterfront on 10 March at 8:30 pm.

* La Sape is an acronym for Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes (The Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People), a social movement centred between Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, and Kinshasa, DRC, that dates back to the 1950s as a unique form of anticolonial resistance through the appropriation and transformation of fashion and music.

This project was part of Sharjah Biennial 12