The Ghosts Are Returning

GROUP50:50

00:00

Tickets coming soon

Unlike many African skeletons languishing in the archives of European museums, the names, approximate origins, dates, and causes of death of these seven are known, and their descendants can be found within the nomadic Mbuti people of the forests of the Congo. But do these descendants want the skeletons and spirits of their ancestors back? Because what is rarely considered in the debate about restitution is that returning masks, skulls, and skeletons also bring back the spirits that the Europeans stole and locked away during the colonial era.

Together with the Mbuti, GROUP50:50 have developed a funeral ritual for the seven spirits –  taking inspiration from traditional Congolese music, the funeral ceremonies and polyphonic chants of the Mbuti, and laments in the classical music tradition – in the hope that they will find peace. A project by PODIUM Esslingen with GROUP50:50 and the Centre d’Art Waza Lubumbashi.

The performance is preceded by »The Time For Deial Is Over«, two afternoons of discussions and talks at HAU2.

Event Access

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Directors: Christiana Tabaro, Eva-Maria Bertschy, Michael Disanka, Elia Rediger
Composition and Music Direction: Kojack Kossakamvwe, Elia Rediger
Text: Christiana Tabaro, Eva-Maria Bertschy, Michael Disanka, Patrick Mudekereza, Ruth Kemna, Elia Rediger
Dramaturgy and Discourse: Eva-Maria Bertschy, Patrick Mudekereza
Stage Design: Elia Rediger, Christiana Tabaro, Michael Disanka und Janine Werthmann
Assistant to Directors: Luca Maier
Technical Director: Sylvain Faye
Video: Moritz von Dungern, Joseph Kasau, Franck Moka und Elia Rediger
Sound design: Philipp Ruoff
Technical Assistant: Anton Pelzer
Sound and Video Mixing: Daniel Freitag
Video Mixing Direction: Beltrán González
Press and Social Media: Fellow Publishing (Johannes Fellmann, Leonie Soltys)
Podcast: Denise Maheho, Franck Moka, Luca Maier
Research assistants: Abé Jean de Dieu Aybeka, Benjamin Imply Ababa, Julienne Nambinomutu Tatu, Jacques Anzakpangezo
Subtitles and translation: Souzy Boukanayo, Julien Couturier, Julie Guigonis, Katia Flouest-Sell
Production Managers: Pamina Rottok, Nicole Lengenberg und Véronique Poverello
Production Assistant: Maria Pelzer
Artistic Director PODIUM Esslingen: Joosten Ellée

Performers: Ruth Kemna (viola and acting), Christiana Tabaro (voice and acting), Huguette Tolinga (percussion), Kojack Kossakamwve (guitar), Franck Moka (electronics and acting), Merveil Mukadi (bass), Elia Rediger (voice and acting)

Performers in the videos: Josée Agbepa, Jean de Dieu Bongama, Jean-Baptiste Ekaka, Mama Sese, Mukombozi, Anselm Ngobe, Tristan Köster (cello), William V. Murray (viola), Per Hakon Oftedal (trumpet), Josefine Schmidt (electric piano), Maxine Troglauer (bass trombone)

»The Ghosts Are Returning« is a project by PODIUM Esslingen with GROUP50:50 and the Centre d’Art Waza Lubumbashi. Co-produced with CTM Festival Berlin, euro-scene Leipzig, Kaserne Basel, and the Vorarlberger Landestheater. Funded by Fonds TURN2 der Kulturstiftung des Bundes, and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. With additional support from Fachausschuss Tanz & Theater BS/BL and Pro Helvetia