A few words about your artistic journey

In 2011, with Michael Disanka, I created the Art-of-Art collective. A space of exchange and creation where I realize several projects presented in the two Congo, in Zambia, in Zimbabwe, in Belgium and in France. Since 2013, I present the “only on stage” Parole de femme, co-written with two co-authors.

How long have you been an artist?

For 10 years, I have opted for a research theater centered on my experience drawing from the library of my life.

Why did you apply for this scholarship? How will the scholarship support you?

We have to counter the fear of not being able to work any more, of not being able to contribute to the reconstruction of tomorrow’s society because we have not succeeded in raising the necessary funds for this or that project which seems to us essential, today.

What are your concrete artistic objectives after this residency?

To make discover, initiate discussions on contemporary theater to a larger number of people in the commune of Ngaliema where I live.

What did you achieve throughout this creative residency? What is the result (created work)? Who was involved in the creation process?

The "Stop at the theater" project consisted of two theater performances, each about 20 minutes long, at two bus stops in Ngaliema commune in Kinshasa. Two actresses, an actor and three musicians took part in the creative process. After 3 days spent at each bus stop, two videos were posted on youtube.

How do you think these activities allow people to reflect on today’s world : regarding the COVID-19 crisis, and/or the shaping of the tomorrow?

Now more than ever people need theater. In these difficult times where everything is slowly starting to take off again, the theater is at a level where it is more than necessary to fight for its existence here in the DRC. Otherwise, today’s Congolese society will no longer have a place where people can sit quietly and reflect on their future, on their existence. This is what "stop on the theater" refers to. It is not only about the future of the theater, but also about what to say now after all that has just happened, to prepare for the future.

How did you feel during the residency? And afterwards ?

I am satisfied with the result of my work. Of course, we have encountered some difficulties ... Playing at a bus stop in Kinshasa is not an easy thing, especially when people are not informed in advance. The overcrowding at the bus stops, the traffic jams, people jostling at any moment to get into a cab, all this was difficult to manage but since it didn’t surprise us, we played with it and it worked.
I think that if we were able to get through it without incident because of the excitement it generated all around, it was because people proved that they need theater in their lives. We knew it and they knew it too. At this place we met. This meeting was the thing we needed during this Covid shocking period to perhaps heal something shattered in us by this virus.