OUT OF AFRICA features three performers showcasing Africa’s rich artistic heritage and their journey to Australia.
Africa is obviously an enormous and diverse continent and three artists are not going to represent a homogeneous pan-African cultural experience. Instead they are displaying their particular talents which have been influenced by their African circumstances
and their time in Australia.
The first performer was dancer Emilia Nwakpa. Originally from Nigeria she discussed how dance can be an escape from the harsh realities of disadvantage and a joyful celebration at weddings, cultural events, funerals or just an end of the week party.
She then launched into electrifying routines displaying brilliant rhythm, energy and flexibility. She explained that dance in Nigeria has much in common with dance in the broader African environment and that dance is universal and is a language that can be understood
anywhere in the world.
Emilia covered a variety of styles including
some of the more modern developments. It was exhilarating, joyful and very impressive.
\After intermission the lush piano of Jonathan Chagaresango introduced the rich and powerful voice of Tarisai Vushe to the stage.
Tarisaihas performed songs from The Lion King, Madiba (Mandela), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Australian Idol.
Her magnificent voice has an international flavour
suited to these musicals and shows. It is not the first
thing that springs to mind when I think of African singing but diversity works both ways.
Obviously people of an African background can sing in many styles and Tarisai has mastered this style of singing and given it a charming Zimbabwean sensibility.
Tarisai is joined on stage by rapper and spoken word artist Samuel Barrie. Samuel arrived here as a four year old refugee. He performed a piece about his first memory on arriving here and the absence of black faces.
Tarisai and Samuel exchanged stories
about the African experience in Australia, including both subtle and overt racism but also the wonderful opportunities they have benefited from being here.
These stories were alternated with Samuel’s
spoken word pieces about subjects such as dust and stars and Tarisai’s songs, including Toto’s Africa and Icehouse’s Great Southern Land. Emilia Nwakpa returned to the stage to assist in a dance number and as well some members of the audience were invited to
join in the joyous and energetic dance.
OUT OF AFRICA is written and directed as a collaboration between Geoffrey Sykes, Tarisai Vushe, Samuel Barrie, and Emilia Nwakpa, and is being performed at the Seymour Centre until Saturday,
29th October 2022.