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Siyaj, from French West Indies, to Perform Oct. 31
Story posted October 20, 2006
Siyaj, a theater company from Guadeloupe and Martinique, French West Indies, will perform at Bowdoin College at 7 p.m., Tuesday, October 31, 2006, in Visual Arts Center, Kresge Auditorium.
Gilbert Laumord.
Gilbert Laumord, Joby Bernabé, Klòd Kiavué, and Dominique Domiquin will give a musical and poetical performance based on Creole poetry and storytelling, drum music, and dance.
The performance, titled Andidan Lawonn-la ("In the Circle"), is inspired by the lewoz, a Guadeloupean musical and choreographic ceremony based on the gwoka drum. Inherited by the African slaves, despised and forgotten after the abolition of slavery, the gwoka has been recently revived and represents a powerful affirmation of African roots and Caribbean identity today.
Joby Bernabé.
During the performance, four artists are on the stage. A dancer enters a circle and is joined by two musicians (a drummer and a guitarist) and a diseur (a poet and storyteller) to pay homage to the glorious ancestors—those who have returned to Africa but continue to communicate with the living. The circle symbolizes the cycle of life and death as well as the passage of time, the separation, and eternity. Physical expression, voice, songs, poetry, storytelling, and music are combined in this multidimensional performance.
Most of the texts are in French and in Creole. A translation in English will be provided in the program booklet.
The performance will be followed by a discussion with the artists.
Admission is free.
Siyaj's visit is sponsored by Romance Languages, Latin American Studies, Africana Studies, Theater and Dance, Music, Bowdoin Caribbean Students Association, African-American Society, and Latin American Students Organization.