NAM Non Aligned Movement
2020
An epic Afro-futuristic journey
The dance solo NAM - Non Aligned Movement is a search for the black European identity and the codes of the black body. Choreographer Christian Guerematchi and musician Shishani Vranckx both have roots in Europe and Africa. They are nourished by their own background and the voices and movements of the African diaspora. In NAM they go on an epic afro-futuristic journey to the Balkans.
The title NAM Non Aligned Movement is inspired by the movement of 'unbound countries' from the 1960s that played a role in the independence struggles of so-called Third World countries. Josip Broz Tito, the president of Yugoslavia (Guerematchi’s country of birth) was one of the founders of this movement.
NAM - Non Aligned Movement is the first part of the broader movement and voice research project Epistemologies of The Body, which focuses on narratives of the black body. The title NAM Non Aligned Movement is inspired by the 1960s movement of "nonaligned countries" that played a role in the independence struggles of so-called third world countries. Josip Broz Tito, the president of Yugoslavia was one of the founders of this movement. An important source of inspiration is the book Tito in Africa - Pictures of Solidarity. It describes Tito's attempts to decolonize the world.
Shishani is a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter with roots in Namibia and Belgium, but grew up in the Netherlands. In her work she brings these worlds together. She has won several awards for her work at home and abroad and tours internationally. With her quartet Namibian Tales she investigated musical traditions of the San people in the Kalahari Desert in cooperation with UNESCO.
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