Mutual attributions and artistic strategies of attribution are the issues dealt with by the artists, which are invited from the African continent, from Europe and the African diaspora to the Festival of Afropean Arts.

Art, beats, debate & discourse with Nelisiwe Xaba, Selina Thompson, Elisabeth Bakambamba Tambwe, Simone Dede Ayivi, Azadeh Sharifi, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Nathalie Anguezomo Mba Bikoro, Dieudonné Niangouna, Monster Truck & The Footprints, Julian Warner & Oliver Zahn, Theater im Bahnhof , Doung Jahangeer, Spoek Mathambo, DJ Zhao, STELOOLIVE, Victor Omar Diop, Andrew Esiebo, Harold Offeh, Yann Rabanier and Ariel Ashbel.

The thematic foci and issues of the past Afropean Mimicry & Mockery I and II now culminate in this year’s ten-day festival. Black knowledge will once again take charge of a white institution – seeking out modes of resistance and the subversive potential of mimicry, sheding a spotlight on counter-narratives.

Once again, many artists are coming to Frankfurt for the first time to give their agendas and artistic work a platform. A particular focus of this year’s invited Black female artists lies on socially ascribed roles – being woman, being Black, being the Other. Merciless analyses and empowering visions are presented by Nelisiwe Xaba, Selina Thompson, Elisabeth Bakambamba Tambwe and Simone Dede Ayivi. The new piece Nkenguégi by Dieudonné Niangouna – associated artist at Mousonturm since 2014 – tells the story of a man’s flight from Congo to Europe. Theater im Bahnhof Graz and Monster Truck address the arbitrary nature of African-European commitment and the massive misunderstandings involved. Julian Warner & Oliver Zahn examine appropriation and (dance)history. Together, we take a closer look at (post-)colonial structures in urban planning worldwide, dance to the African beats of Spoek Mathambo, DJ Zhao, STELOOLIVE and Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids, debate issues in Staging the Postcolonial lab. But above all, one will seek out new role models and visions. Towards a post-racist society of the future.

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Exhibition : 24 November – 03 December
at  Studio 2, Waldschmidtstraße 4, 60316 Frankfurt am Main

STITCHING STARS – WAYS OF (SELF-)REPRESENTATION is a photo exhibition of seven artists dealing with images, stereotypes and clichés of representation. Ironic over-affirmation, artistic activism, calculated studio-glam and the documentation of political reality on the street are just some of their paths towards self-empowerment and liberation from the normative shackles of race, gender, and biography. This exhibition is not about presenting the ‘right’ images, but rather ones that are so wrong, ambiguous, offensive or over-polished that they productively challenge preconceptions.

Contributing artists: Victor Omar Diop (Dakar), Andrew Esiebo (Lagos), Nathalie Anguezomo Mba Bikoro (Berlin/ Libreville), Harold Offeh (London), Yann Rabanier (Paris), Ariel Efraim Ashbel (Berlin/ Tel Aviv), Wura-Natasha Ogunji (Lagos/ Austin).

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Find the full programme of Theatre, Performance & Visual Arts here

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 www.mousonturm.de