Back to Kidal

Serge Aimé Coulibaly / Faso Danse Théâtre

“We have come a long, long way in the struggle for justice, but we have a long way to go.” Martin Luther King

African in origin and universal in scope, the blues carries the voice of those who have weathered storms. During their involuntary crossing to America, enslaved people brought their musical traditions with them. There, these traditions evolved into the blues, a genre of resilience and dignity. In Back to Kidal, choreographer Serge Aimé Coulibaly, born in Burkina Faso and now based in Brussels, draws upon this musical heritage.

The story unfolds in a powerful performance by Faso Danse Théâtre, accompanied by spoken word artist Odile Sankara, singer Niaka Sacko, and live music by Ivan Talbot and Patrick Kabré.

Kidal is a resource-rich region with small gold mines and reserves of iron and copper, but above all, it is marked by postcolonial tensions. In this odyssey, it serves as a symbolic place within the Mali Empire, which boasts an ancient musical tradition. The cradle of Afro-blues. Distinctive blues guitar resonates live as a thread running through the performance, connecting the various scenes with a musical heritage deeply rooted in Africa.

Expect a gripping tale of the quest for self-determination. A contemporary epic in which pride and resilience echo through a long history of struggle and resistance.