AQVA - 22/24 FEBRUARY 2008

The post electoral violence which has rocked pockets of Kenya and has been widely reported by the media in the most negative way has flung the country into an instant recession, killing tourism and effectively sending hundreds of thousands of innocent and competent people to the streets.

In its commitment to show the world the existing positive and healing side of Africa, The Great Rift Valley Trust (Environmental Awareness through Art) and the Gallmann Memorial Foundation (Coexistence of People and Nature in Africa), in association with the Italian Fondazione Ipazia (Art for the Environment) supported by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, has decided to go ahead with the planned programme for the Project AQVA.

120 local and international artists (who are braving the travel advisories) are traveling to Laikipia Nature conservancy on Kenya’s Eastern Rift Valley to bring to the world a positive message of peace and reconciliation.

AQVA

Over the weekend of the 22 – 24 February, 2008 the Laikipia Nature Conservancy will host the Great Rift Valley, Earth Festival, Aqva, the fourth of the Great Rift Valley Trust events.

It will be the first of three shows of the AQVA PROJECT.

The AQVA Project

Conceived by the Italian Fondazione Ipazia (HYPERLINK "http://www.fondazioneipazia.it/"www.fondazioneipazia.it) - Art for the Environment- together with the Kenyan Gallmann Memorial Foundation (HYPERLINK "http://www.gallmannkenya.org/"www.gallmannkenya.org), and the Great Rift Valley Earth Festival (www.gallmannkenya.org/earth) of the Great Rift Valley Trust, the event AQVA 2008 is supported by the Italian Ministry of the Environment, the Cultural section of the US Embassy in Nairobi, The United Nation Environment Programme and the Italian Institute of Culture, in Nairobi.

The aim of the AQVA project is to create, between 2008 and 2010, three live shows en plain air, involving the major outdoor theatre companies of the world:
La Compagnia di Valerio Festi in 2008, Fura del Baus in 2009 and Franco Dragone in 2010. 

The shows will premiere in Kenya, as part of the Earth Festival, which since 2005 takes place on Kenya’s Great Rift Valley every February.

The Great Rift Valley Earth Festival was conceived to raise environmental awareness through art by bringing together artists from all over the world at Humankind’s cradle. This year’s event will focus on Water the element, and Water as portrayed in ancient Myths from all cultures.

Water has been chosen as the theme of the event for its symbolic value tied to the collective subconscious of humankind, and at the same time as a basic element for life whose scarcity or abundance conditions human existence. Since political unrest in Kenya that has resulted in displaced people, the outcome of AQVA will be charitable and humanitarian help.

Prior to this - 45 youth from the most affected slums in Nairobi have gathered in Laikipia Nature Conservancy with local artists for a healing and reconciliation workshop over one week, facilitated by trained Kenyan leaders from the USA Institute for Peace.

AQVA’s legacy will be to create practical humanitarian projects focusing on water projects to help the communities of the Great Rift Valley and Laikipia region.

The Gallmann Memorial Foundation (GMF) 

Based on Ol ari Nyiro, Laikipia Nature Conservancy, on Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, GMF has been founded by Kuki Gallmann in memory of her son and husband, with the mission to prove that Africa can survive out of the ecological, sustainable, educational and creative use of its natural resources.

Since 2005 through the Kenyan Great Rift Valley Trust- a Kenya Trust, the foundation organizes and hosts the Great Rift Valley Earth Festival, where artists from around the world meet to create original fusion art –building bridges and healing rifts between ethnic, religious and political divides- and creating unique performances inspired by prevalent environmental concerns. The Great Rift Valley Trust also sponsors ‘Artists in Residence” at the Conservancy throughout the year.

Prior events of The Great Rift Valley Trust have been immensely successful: 2005 Prelude (based on the Elements),
2006 Wings (to declare the World Migratory Birds Day, at the time when avian flu cast a negative image on migratory birds) and 2007 EARTH-Healing the Rift for climate change awareness, and in support of United Nations' Plant for the planet: Billion trees campaign.

La Fondazione Ipazia takes its name from a woman scientist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher who lived in the town of Alessandria in Egypt in the V century.

It focuses on art and environment: it creates mesmerizing and outstanding outdoor performances which highlight the relationship between man and the Planet.

In 2008 La Fondazione Ipazia is producing, in addition to AQVA, “Le rideau se lève”, a show for the opening of Damascus as the capital of culture in the Arab World and, in 2009 “La celebrazione degli elementi” for Istanbul European Capital of culture in 2010. 

The first part of the AQUA Trilogy will premiere on 23 February 2008; the actual title is Deluge and it will be produced by la Compagnia di Valerio Festi (HYPERLINK "http://www.studiofesti.it/"www.studiofesti.it). 

”Deluge” tells of how the world’s people, although geographically remote from one another, all have in common the universal myth of the flood. Jewish, Sumerian, Indian, Africans, and Inuit artists will tell flood stories on stage.

The show will evolve in 6 scenes developing on three stages constructed by a lake in the middle of the African savannah. The amphitheater facing the lake has been especially constructed for this occasion by landscape architect Slobodan Randjelovich and the foundation team; the local community, including 50 women belonging to Turkana, Samburu, Pokot, Borana ad Kikuyu tribes, has been involved at all stages in the building; the language will be Kiswahili and English.

The show will involve 180 performers (musicians, dancers, visual artists, acrobats, actors...) coming from Africa, Europe, the Americas, India and the Middle East.

Prior to the event the group will work together for over two weeks through workshops to elaborate the final event.

An entire weekend is dedicated to the event and everyone from local to international guests are invited to attend to witness this special performance.

Following the premiere the show will tour the world capitals. A troupe of young Italian, Kenyan, Serb, German and American documentary makers will film the making of the event.

"Screens of Africa"

(has been temporarily put on hold-following the political unrest) 

AQVA will tour the show Deluge throughout Kenya, so as to reach people in remote villages, bringing its message of peace, hope, and respect for the Earth.
This sequence, conceived by Fondazione Ipazia, will use for the first time ever unique communication special effects, with the power to create magic and wonder: it will be Water itself to tell the Deluge stories through a screen of water -a fine curtain of cascading water on which the scenes of the show will be projected.

In front of the screen a local actor will tell in Kiswahili the stories of the Flood.

The Fondazione Ipazia, the Gallmann Memorial Foundation, the Great Rift Valley Trust hope that, after the post election violence that has erupted in Kenya, an event such as AQUA/Deluge that brings together people from many parts of the world, and has a strong environmental focus, will contribute to the restoration of peace and to bring to the world a poignant and positive image of Kenya.

The outcome of AQUA will be specific water projects to benefit communities of the Great Rift Valley and the Laikipia region, and in particular areas who have suffered as a result of conflicts.

ARTISTS BIOGRAPHIES
EARTH FESTIVAL, AQVA 2008

MONICA MAIMONE AND STUDIO FESTI - HYPERLINK "http://www.studiofesti.org" www.studiofesti.org.
Monica Maimone is the creative force behind world renowned outdoor production company Studio Festi. They have put on productions all over the world, including the opening of the Bilbao Guggenheim, the Pope’s millennium celebrations in Rome, as well as spectacular productions is the Grand Canyon, Moscow, Tokyo and most recently the opening of the winter Olympics in Turin. Monica’s shows are visually spectacular and truly embrace a quality of fairytale. Monica directed our first production, Prelude, with dramatic effect.

NUKARIIK (Inuit Throat Singers)
Nukariik is a group of two sisters, Karin and Kathy Kettler, who work together to preserve and share Inuit culture from Canada. Nukariik enthusiastically preserves and shares Inuit culture and music through a traditional and contemporary repertoire. Through entertaining performances, Nukariik provides explanations of and demonstrates throat singing, drum dancing, ajaja songs and traditional Inuit games.

BAULS OF BENGAL
Mystic singers, wandering minstrels, the Bauls of Bengal preserve one of the oldest and most fascinating Indian traditions. Narayan Chandra Adhikary Baul is one of the most important Baul Masters. He is known as the greatest player of Dotara (little Indian lute) all over the Bengal. His music creates passionate atmospheres through Baul traditional melodies executed with a peculiar technique, very close to Sarod, an instrument used in classical Indian music

HAYDEN CHRISHOLM - HYPERLINK "http://www.softspeakers.com" www.softspeakers.com
Hayden Chisholm is a saxophonist and composer internationally well known for his ground breaking work with the artist Rebecca Horn and as a performer in the Jazz and New Music scenes. Originating from New Zealand where he won the prestigious Young Achievers Award, he studied music and philosophy in Germany, India, and Japan and has since performed at major festivals all over the world. His compositions have been recorded by BBC and by WDR radio and as an instrumentalist he has released several albums. He currently performs with Burnt Friedman and Jacki Liebezeit, Root70, Zeitkratzer, and Pluramon as well as creating the music for several of Rebecca Horn’s recent installations, most of which are touring the world. Although only 32, he has spent 9 years of his life on tour giving concerts He currently lives in Barcelona and Cologne.

KENGE KENGE ORUTO SYSTEMS
The Kenge Kenge Orutu Systems comprises young Kenyan musicians vastly talented and skilled in traditional music of the JoLuo Community from Western Kenya. The group’s thorough mastery of the traditional Luo Orutu fiddle and nyatiti lyre spearheaded a new approach to how these age old instruments are played, much to the appreciation of contemporary audiences. Characterised by often racy and compact instrumentation, Kenge Kenge’s music infectiously invites one to the dance floor. Their debut DC titled
‘Otenga’ has had phenomenal receptions by audiences throughout East Africa and was released on World Music Network in 2007. ODERO GEORGE ACHIENG Lead vocalist, Orutu player and band leader. MANGO BONFACE ODHIAMBO Percussionist and dancer. OLIECH ELIJAH OTIENO Vocalist, Orutu player and sound box player. NYARIWO SAMUEL Flutist. ATIENO PETER OPIYO Vocalist and Orutu player. KUNGU JOSEPH OJUNGA Horn blower and vocalist. ODUOR GABRIEL ODHIAMBO Nyatiti player. AGOLA TOBIAS ONYANGO Drum set. ABOK DINA AKINYI Dancer. PETER ACHAIYO Management.

SARAKASI DANCERS (Contemporary Kenyan Dancers)
Sarakasi Trust is East Africa’s largest performing arts organization. It assists hundreds of acrobats, dancers and musicians in developing their skills. Sarakasi is not just a platform for artists to improve their professional techniques but is also a place for social development. Sarakasi Trust was formed for the benefit of a range of performing artistes from acrobats to musicians to dancers and visual artists.

MICHEL ONGARO
Born in Kericho in 1980, Michel started cultivating his musical talent from the age of 4 by playing buckets, tin pots and drums to entertain the children of his estate. At school he joined the choir and band and at 7 he told his mother he would be a musician which she encouraged whole heartedly. Michel soon started playing the piano, xylophone and accordion and his musical career started when he played with several Nairobi bands. He has now performed in England, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy several times, including at the North Sea Jazz Festival. He now has his own band- Senta Line. Michel has been an important presence at all of the Great Rift Valley productions with his close friend and fellow musician Oneko Arika. For Prelude they co-wrote the great hit ‘Ardi’ (Earth). Michel’s exceptional musical versatility and the wide array of instruments he plays is a great contribution to the cross-cultural collaboration required for the Great Rift Valley Trust projects. He says of this project “We are one tribe here, the tribe of artists”.

ONEKO ARIKA RICHARD
Oneko has been involved in many different aspects in the arts and sports. He boxed from the age of 9 – 18 years old for the Kenya posts and telecommunications corporations for the Eastern African industries and the Kenyan Army from 1994 – 1996. During his time he was exposed to traditional music through a cultural group that used to train in the same premises as his boxing club.

On quitting boxing after the death of his mother, Oneko ventured into creative writing, helping to develop original scripts for stage and also adapting other peoples works.

In 2002 Oneko met Michel Ongaro and from then on there has been no turning back for him. He loves to compose and recite / perform his own original poetry as well as playing various percussion instruments and hand drums.

In 2004 he bought some houses in the slums of Kiberia in Nairobi and with his own meagre resources he developed it into a one storey building. He now hosts some youth from the neighbour hood and helps them to reform from petty crime and drug pushing to doing some creative arts like painting, beadworks, knitting etc. In total he currently hosts 16 young men between the age of 17 – 26 years.

Oneko has also been involved in making documentaries and radio programmes for the BBC and he loves DJing all genres of music including reggae, salsa and R and B.

JHELISA ANDERSON
International recording artist, Jhelisa Anderson has developed a recording career based in London. Born in Mississippi, she went on to study in Los Angeles and eventually made her way to London where she was embraced globally for her diverse sound. Jhelisa received global critical acclaim for her track ‘Language Electric.’

When touring in the UK, Europe and Japan, Jhelisa shared the stage with a number of legendary artists including James Brown, Herbie Hancock, The Roots and Sting and has had collaborations with many other artists such as Jeff Buckley, The Shamen, Massive Attack plus others. She was also featured in the Italian film "The Protagonist" staring British actress Tilda Swinton (Narnya, Beach) which featured in the London and Venice Film Festivals.

Jhelisa has traveled extensively in both Africa and Brazil and has taken inspiration from the rich musical cultures around the world. In 2004 she moved to New Orleans to record her new album "A Primitive Guide to Being There" for INFRACom. When hurricane "Katrina" hit New Orleans Jhelisa left the city. Her studio and house were destroyed by the flood and part of the album is lost too. Jhelisa has now completed the recordings in Atlanta. The CD will be sold as a bundle together with the DVD "One week with Jhelisa - Rediscovering America". After going through this the performance at Laikipia Nature Conservancy of “Aqua” is very close to her heart.

Her new projects include the soon to be released Sunday in Algiers, A Tribute to Nina Simone, recorded in New Orleans a few months before Katrina, featuring New Orleans musicians James Singleton on Acoustic Bass, Brian Coogan on Piano and Endre Landsnes on drums. Jhelisa is also a featured vocalist on the new One Giant Leap CD / DVD.

MASTERS DRUMMERS
Edward Kabuye, born in 1966 in Uganda, he trained at the Music, Dance and Drama Department of the Makerere University. He has worked with Uganda’s top musical group, the Afrigo Band. He moved to Kenya in 1994 and formed the Talking Drums of Africa. He is engaged in research work on African music and theatre. He has traveled widely in Africa, Europe and Asia, teaching drumming, conducting workshops and performing with the Talking Drums of Africa.

George Mulwa Mutunga, Mulwa’s dance and music career began very young. A professional dancer, percussionist and vocalist since 1985, Mulwa specializes in African dance and rhythms. As a choreographer and a dance teacher he has traveled widely with different percussion groups in Europe and Eastern Africa.

Komora Abdulnassir Wayu Wayu joined the Bomas of Kenya, the only institution offering training in authentic African/Kenyan dances, drumming and singing, after high school. Later, in 1993 he joined Mzizi Cultural Centre as a choreographer and instructor serving Mzizi for 11 years. He has performed in South Korea and the USA. He recently traveled to the International Festival of Mayotte with the Talking Drums of Africa. He is a primary school teacher at the Rudolf Stenir School in Nairobi.

Michael Katana Garama was born into a musical family and started his career as a dancer with the Bomas of Kenya. He has worked as a drummer with several percussion groups including African Tumas and Talking Drums of Africa. He has also performed with Kenya’s top musicians including Eric Wainaina and Suzanne Owiyo

SOPHIE BARKER - HYPERLINK "http://www.sophiebarker.com" www.sophiebarker.com
Sophie is a singer known for her work with the British Group Zero 7. She is the co-writer of the band’s biggest hit, “Destiny.” She also co-wrote and sang Zero 7 songs such as “In the Waiting Line” and “Spinning” on the Zero 7 album, Simple Things which is a platinum record having sold more then one million copies worldwide. She has also preformed frequently with Groove Armada. Recently, a remix of her song With the Egg-Walking Away, was in the UK chart top 3 for most of the summer. Sophie is well known in the British Festival scene – having played at Glastonbury, Bestival, the Big Chill and many others. She released a solo album, Eartbound, in 2006, along with Lullaby, an album of soothing night-time songs for children.

SUE HILL - HYPERLINK "http://www.edenproject.com" www.edenproject.com and HYPERLINK "http://www.wildworks.biz" www.wildworks.biz
Sue Hill is a visual artist and theatre maker, core member of Wild Works and member of the Creative Team at the Eden Project. She has worked with many companies including Welfare State International, Emergency Exit Arts, Walk the Plank Theatre Ship, and the Royal National Theatre. In 1988 she joined Kneehigh, Cornwall’s international theatre company, serving on their management team from 1994 – 2001 and helping to grow their distinctive style of theatre. From 2000 until 2006 she was Artistic Director for the Eden Project, developing their innovative interpretation strategy, commissioning artists, writers and performers to illuminate Eden’s ideas and messages. With her brother Pete Hill she made many large scale carnival images and earth sculptures including the iconic Mudmaid in the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and the Dreaming Girl for the 4Head Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2006.

She has traveled widely through her work, with performances, commissions, speaking engagements and seminars in Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Brazil, Russia, Georgia, Canada, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Ireland, Malta, France, Kosovo, South Africa, India, Egypt, USA and China.

Sue has designed, with her partner Bill Mitchell, every Wild Works project; building a village out of wrecked boats in Malta, a treehouse round a huge eucalyptus tree overlooking the Green Line in Nicosia, and a fishing shanty town (that the company lived in during rehearsal and performance) on the quay at Hayle in Cornwall. For ‘Souterrain’ she has helped to create the Underworld anew in each location – in a village, a fortress, a department store, a school and a derelict convent. Her special area of interest is the role of culture and art in building and sustaining communities. Sue was born and educated in Cornwall.

PETE HILL – HYPERLINK "http://www.peteandsuehill.co.uk" www.peteandsuehill.co.uk
Pete Hill is a freelance visual artist, maker and climber based in Cornwall, UK where he lives and surfs. He has created various large-scale mud pie sculptures with his sister Sue including the Dreaming Girl for Chelsea Flower show, Eve at The Eden Project and Ardhi, the Mother Africa sculpture for last years Great Rift Valley Earth Festival. He is a member of Wild Works, making landscape theatre internationally, has worked at The Eden Project on many sculptural installations and on Disney’s stage version of The Lion King. He has fallen in love with Kenya and her people.

MYRIDDIN WANNELL
Mydd is a freelance visual artist based in Cornwall. He also works for the Eden project and Wild Works creating small and large-scale theatre and art installations.

DIETER LEE-STRAUB
Dieter Straub is an artist and musician from Cornwall. He has worked throughout England for companies such as the Eden Project and Wild Works.

SIMON HAYWARD
Simon is a designer, maker from Cornwall. His main interest is in practical sculpture that’s formed to compliment its environment. As well as working on projects for the Eden Project Simon has also worked on pieces for Wild Works.

NIKOS LAGOUSAKOS
Nikos Lagousakos is a graduate of the School for New Dance Development of the Theatre school of Amsterdam. He has worked as an assistant creative choreographer and an assistant field choreographer for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games of Athens 2004 and Turin 2006.  In the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games of Turin he was a Choreographer of 3 segments.

Between other projects he has choreographed the Opening Ceremony of the World Championship of Fencing in 2006 and has been a Mass Choreographer for the Stars Parade in Istanbul, a show by Studio Festi.

SLOBODAN RANDJELOVIC
Slobodan is a Serbian born, Italian based architect, landscape architect and photographer whose love of old building inspired him to learn to use a camera so he could preserve their beauty for posterity. He is behind the design of stages, amphitheatres and settings for all the past events at Laikipia Nature Conservancy, “Prelude”, “Wings” the last year’s “Earth” and this year’s “Aqva” stage and amphitheatre. A self-described “modern nomad,” Randjelovic has lived and traveled throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. “We cannot keep the world as it is, but we can evolve it in a sustainable, intelligent way,” he says. He’s currently juggling design projects in Italy and private estates in Kenya.

ALAN SENER
Alan Sener, Professor and Chair has presented over 50 dances for The University of Iowa Department of Dance. Sener teaches improvisation, choreography and modern dance technique in the tradition of Louis Falco with whom he performed as a principle dancer as part of the New York based Louis Falco Dance Company. He was entrusted with the artistic direction of the Falco Repertory, a dance legacy with which he continues to be associated. Sener is active as a freelance choreographer, and conducts master classes and choreography workshops worldwide. As a performer and choreographer in film and television, his credits include seven national commercials, three music videos, two industrial videos and two feature films.

CLAIRE WESTON
Claire Weston was born in Heywood, UK and trained at the Royal Ballet School. Claire joined the Royal Ballet Company in 1991. During her nine years there, she performed in numerous ballets, toured Europe, Asia & the US and created roles in new works by Twyla Tharp, William Forsythe, Ashley Page, & William Tuckett. In 1998 she retired from performing and moved to New York where she began working at the Dance Space Center as the Managing Director. Claire currently is the Director of Student Programs and productions at Steps on Broadway. As a producer/artistic director she has worked on many galas, concerts and film screening including a fundraising project in Namibia and a gala evening for the First State Ballet. She now performs only for projects which are close to her heart.

ADNAN KARIM
Adnan was born in the city of Kirkuk in the Kurdistan of Iraq. Although a graduate of the Institute of Fine Arts, his passion was always for traditional Kurdish music. He was initially influenced by the popular established travelling bands as their repertoire of folk songs left a lasting impression on him.

His first public performance as a singer was in 1979 singing folk songs. Since then he developed his talent in composing his own songs often drawing on and bringing to life the lyrics of great Kurdish poets.

So far he has recorded 6 CDs which have been widely and well received by Kurdish audiences. It is his distinct, powerful, emotional and passionate voice of great beauty with a huge vocal range that thrill audiences everywhere.

His extensive knowledge of the Kurdish Maqam and his own compositions have established him as one of the most serious Kurdish artists of the decade. He is able to sing and play with different instruments ranging from the very traditional to an orchestra or just a harp. He has recently finished recording a CD with the Kamkar Ensemble and more recently in Sulemaniah, he gave a performance with the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra with musicians from Baghdad, Sulemaniah and the Garyan ensemble conducted by Abdulla Jamal.

For more information: event@gallmannkenya.co.ke

For information on the Festival accommodation, travels and logistics contact:

aqua@letsgosafari.com
+254 738 595 088