Ebhofolo

A great many traditional African “homes” are built in such a way that a natural space and feeling is created. Yet, the “home” is a lot more than just a living space: it reflects relationships with others like a mirror, and also relationships of living beings with the world of their ancestors. In keeping with the traditional “home”, the NDEBELE “dwelling” is built around four different structures:
The main building, the “NTLO HOLO”
1. Two secondary buildings “NTOLO E NYANE”
2. The forecourt “FORECOURT”
3. And finally, the internal space
4. “INNER SPACE”

In EBHOFOLO: this “Folly” (a word of Xhosa origin), the choreographer explores the accuracy of what takes place between the NTLO HOLO (the main building) and the NTOLO E NYANE (the secondary building), between the FORECOURT (outside) and the INNER SPACE (inside), just as reality can also mean dealing with the everyday “folly” of contemporary life, where we discover characters, foolishness, obstacles. The choreographer combines the philosophy of dance techniques with the notion of NDEBELE space and time, as they are shaped in their living spaces. He observes how the nature of people is linked to their art of painting, to the consideration they give to their “home”, which they inherited when they were born. The challenge for the choreographer is to express this relationship between yesterday, today and tomorrow through dance. Unlike “folly”, EBHOFOLO is embellished with colours that are directly linked to NDEBELE art, the very essence of a traditional art de vivre that is in the process of becoming extinct.

Source : Maison de la Danse – programme

DR – We are looking for the heirs of this work. Thank you to contact us if you have any information about it. numeridanse@maisondeladanse.com