A Benguer

The origin of the title of the play “A benguer” is the deals with an issue that is familiar and very important for me : the immigration issue and the fate of young people of Africa.

A benguer means, in slang used in Western Africa, “the other side”, “the elsewhere”, and more generally speaking “Europe”. That is the origin of the title of the play “A benguer” that deals with an issue that is familiar and very important for me : the immigration issue and the fate of young people of Africa. It is a hot issue. Everyday we watch images of illegal immigrants landing on the Canary Islands, in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as people holding no identity papers being repatriated every day to Africa.

In the play A benguer, the issue of immigration takes a human and emotional form. In fact the creation of this show has been inspired by the real life of the performers and of their close friends : these people faced with the harsh reality of the social, political and economic life in Burkina Faso, those confronted with the temptation of exile, and those who have crossed the other side and keep going back home keeping the myth of a dream Europe alive, a place where life is easy and money always within reach… The play has a poetic touch that offers a very physical and meaningful dance with echoes of rap and songs with the beats of traditional instruments in the background, instruments such the kora, the calabach and the mouth arch.

A benguer also symbolises the will to arouse questions on the African and European political responsibilities regarding the exodus of a part of the youngs Africans, particularly throught the very emotional lyrics of the rap band Faso Kombat.  The scenery gives a concept of two worlds, Europe and Africa on the same stage, at the same time a bar (“maquis”), a waiting room or a borderline, a barrier to cross.

Source: www.fasodansetheatre.com