“If we can’t find the bodies, or exhume the bodies, how do we fetch the spirits? If we don’t know where and when their deaths happened, where do we go to mourn? We compose songs from messages we received as fragments from our dreams and deep thoughts to bring their spirits hither through ingoma – song, vibration, dance and rhythm. We know they have left their footprints in the sand, in the water, in the air and in the ether.” – Sbusiso Shozi

On 24 and 25 February, African Exodus made its international debut at the SCHALL&RAUSCH – FESTIVAL FÜR BRANDNEUES MUSIKTHEATER in Berlin, Germany.

Each performance of African Exodus was accompanied by an iteration of the Surplus Circus, which saw the German opera world meeting up with South African musicians in an experimental and free-spirited dialogue of music and performance, using the strategies and methodologies of The Centre for the Less Good Idea.

Written and composed by Sbusiso Shozi, and directed by Nhlanhla Mahlangu, African Exodus is a musical odyssey about the history of African migration, where the music of the continent becomes a tool for retracing, or perhaps redrawing, the footsteps of the Bantu people that have long since been lost to history.

African Exodus emerges out of a long history of play, experimentation and collaboration at The Centre, beginning with an early iteration of the work in 2018, subsequently expanded through Uhambo, Imizwa Nomsindo! in 2021.

Ahead of the run in Berlin, SO | The Academy for the Less Good Idea invited Sbusiso Shozi, Nhlanhla Mahlangu and the cast of African Exodus to give insight into the creation of the work through HOW | Showing the Making: African Exodus.

Also on 25 February, The Centre’s co-founder & director, Bronwyn Lace, and director of African Exodus, Nhlanhla Mahlangu, were in conversation with researcher and philosopher Mirjam Schaub, as they discussed experimental opera in the public conversation POP&EXPERIMENT, held at the Pepsi Boston Bar at SchwuZ.

CREDITS:

WRITER, COMPOSER, MUSICAL DIRECTOR & PRODUCER | Sbusiso Shozi
DIRECTOR | Nhlanhla Mahlangu
PERFORMERS | Sbusiso Shozi, Thabo Gwadiso, Simphiwe Skhakhane, Thulani Zwane, Dikeledi Modubu, Lindokuhle Thabede & Isaac Kenny Mahlodi Rakotsoane
MUSICIANS | Yogin Sullaphen & Volley Nchabeleng
LIGHTING DESIGNER | Wesley France
SOUND ENGINEER | Zain Vally
STAGE MANAGER | Dimakatso Motholo

Photographs by Anna-Louise Rolland