Africa Simply the Best – Faso Danse Théâtre & Ankata

With Africa Simply the Best, the International DANCE Festival Munich, in collaboration with the Münchner Kammerspiele, presents three exciting artistic voices from Togo, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The program features the winning productions from the fifth edition of the choreographic competition for solos, AFRICA SIMPLY THE BEST, initiated by Serge Aimé Coulibaly. This contest is open to young choreographers from the whole African continent. Out of 117 submissions from 19 countries, 14 solo choreographies were selected for the final. They were performed in front of an interdisciplinary jury and an audience in December 2023 in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The award-winning choreographers Koffi Kégou Afiadegnigban, Aziz Zoundi, and Kadidja Tiemanta won sponsorship for a tour of Africa and Europe for their autobiographically inspired pieces.

The program at Africa Simply the Best includes:

Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban’s La Quatrième – Togo
An intimate performance about polygamous societies in Africa

Aziz Zoundi’ Chute Perpétuelle – Burkina Faso
An introspective performance exploring loss, pain, and the fight for authenticity

Kadidja Tiemanta’s Banbali (100 fin) – Mali
A performance which addresses resilience, struggling with an illness, and the search for hope

Serge Aimé Coulibaly, the choreographer from Burkina Faso, has had a close collaboration with the Munich Kammerspiele for several years. In October 2024, his production Balau, featuring ensemble members from the Kammerspiele and dancers from Coulibaly’s Brussels based Faso Danse Théâtre, premiered at the Therese-Giehse-Halle. The platform AFRICA SIMPLY THE BEST, founded by the artistic director of Faso Danse Théâtre, has been staged five times and has become a significant pan-African cultural event. With the motto “Creativity, Innovation, and Originality,” it brings together, celebrates, and supports young artists every two years.

Kadidja Tiemanta

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Kadidja Tiemanta

Kadidja Tiemanta

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Kadidja Tiemanta

Kadidja Tiemanta

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Kadidja Tiemanta

Kadidja Tiemanta

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Kadidja Tiemanta

Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban

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Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban

Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban

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Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban

Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban

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Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban

Aziz Zoundi

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Aziz Zoundi

Aziz Zoundi

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Aziz Zoundi

Aziz Zoundi

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Aziz Zoundi

Aziz Zoundi

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Daddy M’Boko

Kadidja Tiemanta

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Céline Paquay

Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban

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Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban

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