In his book Une écologie Décoloniale, the political scientist Malcom Ferdinand proposes a new approach to the ecological issue, linking it to colonial history. The image of the slave ship appears as a political metaphor for a world marked by relations of domination. The image of the ship-world, on the other hand, suggests a different history of the world and the Earth, one in which beliefs, thoughts and imaginations could meet and circulate. This metaphor resonates with Betty Tchomanga's research into the voodoo cult and the figure of Mami Wata. Like Malcolm Ferdinand's Ship-World, both her choreographic work and this lecture-performance are based on circulation, cohabitation and juxtaposition of images, imaginaries and beliefs from dominant and dominated cultures. Building on her latest creation, "Leçons de Ténèbres", Betty Tchomanga proposes a new form in which her research, reflections and questions cohabit with the dances, songs and ghostly figures present in the piece. 

This conference-performance was created with the support of Quartz scène nationale de Brest and the MIR Festival in Athens. 

Picture :  George Kondylis