Festival TransAmériques presents

Re:Incarnation – Qudus Onikeku

All of Lagos is out in the streets. A fight breaks out, and one person dies. Reality shifts on its axis, revealing a world where a bird-woman holds court, along with keepers of the kingdom of the dead and other mythical figures. In this world, death is nothing final, it is merely a thread that connects us to the ancestors. Re:Incarnation draws on Yoruba philosophy—the ethnic background of the Nigerian choreographer Qudus Onikeku—to revive body memory and celebrate Africa’s ability to reinvent itself in a collective rebirth.

Ten young dancers and two musicians perform the cycle of life with explosive energy. This young generation of Nigerien dancers, steeped in local Afrobeats as well as dancehall, hip-hop, and funky house, feed an exuberant exploration of life’s several passages. Re:Incarnation is epic, an ode to the cultural bounty of Nigeria, with each artist adding their own individual force. The piece is a passionate journey of initiation and catharsis.

Qudus Onikeku is a representative of a new generation of artists working internationally. The choreographer was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and in 2009 went on to train at the École nationale supérieure des arts du cirque in France, initially working at the crossroads of dance and acrobatics. Inspired by traditional Yoruba philosophy, he has also been influenced by hip-hop, capoeira, and contemporary dance.

Théâtre Jean-Duceppe
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 8:00pm
Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 7:00pm – Meet the artists after the performance
Friday, May 27, 2022 at 7:00pm
Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 3:00pm
To purchase your tickets visit: www.placedesarts.com