The revolutionary-musical show KALAKUTA REPUBLIC will close the 10th anniversary edition of ONE DANCE WEEK on October 15 at 7:30 pm in Boris Hristov House of Culture in Plovdiv. Inspired and filled with the sound from the compositions of the legendary Fela Kuti, the father of afro-beat and an unbending rebel against the junta in Nigeria, this unusual dance performance tells about resistance to the great politics, about revolutions and those who stand under their flags.
Kuti himself is considered a prototype of African opposition, because the sharp satire against the regime, repression and colonialism in his albums “cost” him over 200 arrests. And much more – an army pogrom over the Kalakuta Republic – Kuti’s personal estate, which he proclaimed an independent state in 1977.
In THE KALAKUTA REPUBLIC Serge Aimé Coulibaly magically combines music, dance and the African Revolution. – La Libre Belgique
KALAKUTA REPUBLIC is not just a story about the disobedient genius with a saxophone in hand, who amazed the world with a mix of ethno rhythms, jazz and funk, but a lesson for all, especially for today’s artists, when positions are taken, when revolutions break up or protests fade out. A bright and sounding performance from Africa without masks and clichés. Africa in the global era that choreographer Serge Aimé Coulibaly and his colorful dance troupe present to the audience with the mere idea – to get to know each other and to think about what they will do when their turn comes to rebel for change.
Festival tickets presale has already started at the price of 45 BGN. The number of promotional passes is limited and following August 31 their price will be increased to 55 BGN.
The tickets for the show KALAKUTA REPUBLIK are also available for 10, 15 and 20 BGN.
Buy with your Visa card at epaygo.bg and get a gift from Visa – a festival bag.
Serge Aimé Coulibaly
Born in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and growing up in Belgium, Serge Aimé Coulibaly has been working as a choreographer and dancer for more than 15 years. African culture is his creative generator, and also the reason behind his engagement with social causes, powerful emotions and hope. Because of the ability to give a universal message and expressiveness to modern dance, Kulibali is well accepted on several continents. In 2002, he founded Faso Danse Théâtre and has so far looked at complex themes linked to the desire to provoke positive dynamics in younger generations. He is also the founder of the ANKATA International Performing Arts Area in Bobo-Dioulasso.
Fella Kuti
The spokesman for an entire generation, he turned the stage into a political platform, and music – into a weapon. Arrested over 200 times for his sharp satire against the regime and its corruption, Fela was a true reincarnation of devotion to the homeland and art. Fella Kuti named the independent Kalakuta Republic after his first prison. The Republic was indeed his mansion on the outskirts of Lagos. His band recorded music there until 1977 when military units stormed the mansion and destroyed the studio.
He opposed ignorance, oppression and awakened Nigerians in inimitable fashion. Kuti’s compositions, some up to 30 minutes in length, endowed with intricate complexity, have reached jazz clubs all the way to “distant” London. Thus, a new musical phenomenon was born.
ONE DANCE WEEK is organized by ONE Foundation for Culture and Arts in partnership with the America for Bulgaria Foundation. THE PROJECT IS PART OF THE PROGRAM OF PLOVDIV – EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2019.
The festival is organised with the general support of Visa – a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories, enabling them to use electronic payments instead of cash and checks, and of Programista; – one of the fastest-growing IT companies in Bulgaria which was recognised as Software Company of the Year 2017 by BASSCOM and BOA.
The festival is organised with the main support of TELUS International Europe – the biggest employer in the BPO sector in Bulgaria and Putishta Plovdiv.
The festival’s team would like to thank the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria, Czech Center Sofia, EU JAPAN FEST committee, the Embassy of Japan in Sofia, “Japan friends in Bulgaria” Club and the Embassy of Czech Republic in Sofia.