I Have a Drum !

A THRILLING NEW SHOW FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED
INGOMA NSHYA: THE WOMEN DRUMMERS OF RWANDA

The Project

In 2004, a group of Rwandan women, led by Odile Gakire “Kiki” Katese, came together to form the first-ever Women Drumming group in Rwandan history: Ingoma Nshya. In so doing, they broke a centuries-old taboo against women being allowed to even touch a drum. This was no easy task, but the benefits of empowering girls and women in the aftermath of nation-wide extreme trauma, were worth the struggle. Ingoma Nshya is now recognized as the best drumming ensemble in the country. This is their story - a story to inspire girls, women, and entire societies; a story told in music, rthym, and pure joy.

In Progress

I Have a Drum will be a virtuosic drum-driven show, full of song and dance - a theatrical concert, with a script that highlights how the drummers came to be, their determination, their triumphs, and their mission to empower girls and women everywhere.

The creative team in a residency at Arts Emerson, Boston

The goal is to create a large-venue show for 12 drummer/singer/dancers, 2 actors (including Kiki Katese) and 2 projection artist/shadow puppeteers. There will be a minimum of 4 support staff on the road with the show. Running time is currently projected to be 75 to 85 minutes.

THE SCRIPT

I Have a Drum is a narrative concert. Two women - one older (Kiki Katese) and one young (Ineza Mugisha) - will be the audience’s guides through the history of the drummers, and the stories behind the music, the songs and the dances. Some pieces are traditional Rwandan, some are traditional Burundian (where it is still illegal for women to drum), and some are the women drummers’ own compositions, where hybrid rhythms dominate and male warrior dances are blended with traditional women’s dances. With all of these elements being in conversation with one another, the virtuosity of the performers is given deeper meaning and context.

The Team

I Have a Drum is being jointly produced by the Woman Cultural Centre (Rwanda) and Volcano (Canada). It is a follow-up to their previous collaboration and global hit, The Book of Life (Edinburgh International Festival, Spoleto USA Festival, Ubumuntu Festival Kigali; Canadian Stage Co. Toronto; and 6-city tour of the USA).

The drummers rehearse during a residency at Arts Emerson, Boston

I Have a Drum has been conceived by Odile Gakire “Kiki” Katese, and is being collaboratively developed by Ms. Katese and Canadian theatre maker / director, Ross Manson; with essential input from the drummers of Ingoma Nshya; designers Acaye Kerunen, Kaitlin Hickey, Patrick Lavender and Kristine White; with assistant director Abigail Whitney and assistant projection artist Aurore Katese.

The Design

Photo of : Acaye Kerunen at work. Video here

Scenic design will be led by globally acclaimed Ugandan artist Acaye Kerunen (curator, Ugandan Pavilion at Venice Bienale, Pace galleries international). Kerunen's art is rooted in continuous engagement with women's issues, and in overcoming the obstacles of a patriarchal colonial approach to “fine art”. African women’s artmaking has been confined to utilitarian practices (eg. weaving to produce mats and baskets rather than weaving for the sake of artmaking). Kerunen collaborates with primary artisans, mostly women, to produce the woven, dyed, and hand crafted materials that she then moulds into large-scale installations, her work paying homage to women. Kerunen will work with Canadian designers Patrick Lavender and Kaitlin Hickey in adapting her installation art to the stage, and lighting it theatrically.

Photo of: Kristine White & Aurore Katese

The live performance onstage will also be accompanied by a projection design of hand-cut, hand-animated shadow imagery, crafted by acclaimed Canadian papercut artist Kristine White, assisted by Rwandan Aurore Katese. In addition, the projection design will explore the use of photography and/or video to visit girls, women or places in Rwanda in a more documentary way - and then to transform these realistic images into visual art.

The idea here is that this show, like the women themselves, are transforming their experience first into history, and then into mythology. These women are, and will always be, the mothers of women drumming in Rwanda, and this show seeks to memorialize that achievement.

Outreach & Ancillary Programming

Outreach event at The Moss Arts Center, Blacksburg, Virginia

I Have a Drum will travel with a team that is skilled at outreach and ancillary programming. Teaching demonstrations, lectures, talk backs, pop-up concerts - all are possible on the road, and can be geared to youth from elementary to college level, as well as to the general public.

Comissioning/Donations

The drummers in concert at the Moss Arts Center, Blacksburg, Virginia

I Have a Drum is seeking commissions and donations in order to come into existence.

Why are commissions valuable?

1. A truly inspiring piece of music theatre, from a country that can rarely export its work, would be given a chance to be seen around the world.

2. The lives of the Rwandan artists involved depend on touring not only for income, but to establish themselves as indispensable in a country where certain factions still believe that women should not be allowed to drum.

3. The more income the women drummers have, the more they can further their goal to provide drumming and dance education for girls in the Rwandan school system.

4. The women drummers are planning to build an arts, culture and education centre focussing on women artists and students (though excluding no one). Networks, income, and international connections would support this goal.

These women, and this show, has a enormous potential for positive impact on girls and women, regardless of where they live. Please click here to support:

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