Contemporary artist and frequent Bessie Award winner nora chipaumire challenges—and embraces—stereotypes of Africa, Black performance and aesthetics, and contemporary dance through her innovative work.
Created during the pandemic, her audio work Nehanda is based on a legend of a spirit venerated by the Shona people, native of Zimbabwe and central Mozambique. chipaumire brings together instruments and musicians from around the world to evoke the story of atrocities against indigenous communities in British-occupied Southern Rhodesia.
To dive into the full piece in a special audio environment, join us on Saturday, October 30, from 11am–4:30pm for a listening marathon in FIAF’s Tinker Auditorium. This will be followed by an artist talk at 5pm with nora chipaumire, moderated by Shanta Thake, Chief Artistic Officer at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The audio work will also be available to enjoy online from Wednesday, October 20–Saturday, November 6 with individual scenes released daily at midnight.
Nehanda Cycle
3 hours 52 minutes
- Day 1 — natives
- Day 2 — whites
- Day 3 — pungwe
- Day 4 — thinkers
- Day 5 — komuredhi judhas nemajekenisheni
- Day 6 — white verdict
- Day 7 — killings
- Day 0 — manifesting
Schedule
Online Broadcast Cycle 1, Oct 20–28
- Individual scenes released at midnight as follows: Wed, Oct 20 – Day 1 | Thu, Oct 21 – Day 2 | Fri, Oct 22 – Day 3 | Sat, Oct 23 – Day 4 | Sun, Oct 24 – Day 5 | Mon, Oct 25 – Day 6 | Tue, Oct 26 – Day 7 | Wed, Oct 27 – Day 0
- Full audio work available on Thu, Oct 28
Online Broadcast Cycle 2, Oct 29–Nov 6
- Individual scenes released at midnight as follows: Fri, Oct 29 – Day 1 | Sat, Oct 30 – Day 2 | Sun, Oct 31 – Day 3 | Mon, Nov 1 – Day 4 | Tue, Nov 2 – Day 5 | Wed, Nov 3 – Day 6 | Thu, Nov 4 – Day 7 | Fri, Nov 5 – Day 0
- Full audio work available on Sat, Nov 6
In-Person Listening Marathon & Artist Talk on Sat, Oct 30 at FIAF
- 11am – Broadcast of Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
- 1-hour break (lunch boxes available for purchase)
- 1:30pm – Broadcast of Day 4, Day 5, Day 6
- 30-minute break
- 3pm – Broadcast of Day 7, Day 0
- 30-minute break
- 5pm – Talk with artist nora chipaumire
About nora chipaumire
nora chipaumire was born in 1965 in what was then known as Umtali, Rhodesia (now Mutare, Zimbabwe). She is a product of colonial education for Black native Africans—known as Group B schooling—and has pursued other studies at the University of Zimbabwe (law) and at Mills College in Oakland, CA (dance).
Cast & Creative Team
company for nora chipaumire
concept, compostion, & conduction: nora chipaumire
vocals: remi oyeniran, sinyoro mugojo, chipaumire, watt, stuart, jerahuni, van heeden, cobb, williamson, katiji
ableton + horn: tyrone isaac stuart
mbira: sinyoro + soko
drums: austin williamson
ngoma: mhuri yekwa mujogo
dj sets: shamar watt, futures
hosho, soko: sinyoro, fatima katiji
guitar: dave gagliardi – remixed from #punk
master teacher: research support – gwinyai enoch rutsito
field recordings: zvimba, norton; zimbabwe, bassano del grappa, italy; lccm, nyc; quick center, fairfield connecticut; pact, essen, germany; callie’s, berlin, germany
audio treatment by franz schütte at nadel eins studio berlin