IJUWA - Our Journey Through Life

25 April 2008

ADANTA, African Dance and Theatre, a London-based theatre company visited Beau Sejour Guernsey for three performances on April 25th, 26th.

The organization developed a dance drama, "IJUWA", which means "our journey through life. IJUWA is a show that uses traditional African dance and music to explore the experience of people of African origin before, during and after colonization. The show uses symbolic dances from Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea and South Africa to conceive drama themes with deep historic and cultural concepts.



The play is in three parts. Part one is about life before the coming of the Europeans. Part two is about contact with the Europeans, including a short dance dramatization of the impact of, and experience from slave trade. Part three is contemporary African life, capturing, through dance the mood in most African communities today.

The play was performed by a cast of 12 dancers, drummers and an acrobat and body contortionist.

ADANTA, the company showcasing IJUWA is an accomplished group that have performed in major events in London, including an appearance at Buckingham Palace in 2002. The group have also enjoyed international recognition, having performed in Dubai, Atlanta USA and will be performing in Athens this August as part of UNESCOs Council of International Dance congress for 2008.

At the end of each performance a collection was taken for Hope for a Child - £160 was raised for HFAC projects in Uganda.

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