Performing Africa: Remixing Tradition, Theatre, and Culture PDF
Preview Performing Africa: Remixing Tradition, Theatre, and Culture
Advance Praise for Performing Africa “Thomas Riccio’s working methods vary, but the goal is always the same: to help local people understand, and above all appreciate, their own traditions and themselves as part of their culture—to make thea- tre starting with the people and culture to express them on their own terms. The work is done as a collective interaction, emphasizing physical expression, which makes people more available to a fuller sense of self, including ‘spiritual things.’ Through Riccio’s work, for- gotten and undervalued oral traditions find a new life and the commu- nity a renewed mechanism of communication.” Suna Vuori Helsingin Sanomat (Helsinki Messenger) “Thomas Riccio’s has had long experience working with indigenous peoples, and an ability to submerge himself in cultures other than his own, where that is closer to the arena of religious or spiritual experi- ence, where the emphasis of both performer and viewer is on the ex- periential.” Stephen Coan The Natal Witness Durban, South Africa “Thomas Riccio is a unique character, with his far-ranging theatre work travels. But he is also a harbinger, and a person who incarnates the intercultural problem/opportunity.” Richard Schechner Editor, The Drama Review Performing Africa PETER LANG New York (cid:121) Washington, D.C./Baltimore (cid:121) Bern Frankfurt am Main (cid:121) Berlin (cid:121) Brussels (cid:121) Vienna (cid:121) Oxford Thomas Riccio Performing Africa Remixing Tradition, Theatre, and Culture PETER LANG New York (cid:121) Washington, D.C./Baltimore (cid:121) Bern Frankfurt am Main (cid:121) Berlin (cid:121) Brussels (cid:121) Vienna (cid:121) Oxford Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Riccio, Thomas. Performing Africa: remixing tradition, theatre, and culture / Thomas Riccio. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Performing arts—Africa. I. Title. PN2969.R55 791.0967—dc22 2006035131 ISBN-13: 978-0-8204-8899-8 ISBN-10: 0-8204-8899-2 Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Bibliothek. Die Deutsche Bibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data is available on the Internet at http://dnb.ddb.de/. Cover design by Sophie Boorsch Appel The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council of Library Resources. © 2007 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York 29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006 www.peterlang.com All rights reserved. Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm, xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited. Printed in Germany To Joseph J. Garry, Jr. He started me on this journey. Contents Acknowledgments ix (Re) Mixing Place, Culture and Performance 1 Emandulo: Process and Performance in a Changing South Africa 23 Politics, Slapstick and Zulus on Tour 49 In Zambia, Performing the Spirits 75 The !Xuu and Khwe Bushmen 103 Tanzania Theatre From Marx to the Marketplace 129 Being African, Acting French 159 Community Health Awareness Puppets in Kenya 185 Trickster by Trade: Thomas Riccio on Indigenous Theatre 205 Notes 223 Bibliography 227 Index 233
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