A play by Luise Rist, in cooperation with the theater 'Djarama' from Senegal

"I no longer want to dream of Europe or America."

Two Senegalese are shipwrecked; instead of Europe, the two friends are stranded on the coast of their own village, on the side where the Toubabs, the white people, live. The play tells the story of an error that will prove fruitful, the coming of age of two young men in Senegal who want to emigrate and begin to reflect - on their own and the other, on the feeling of inferiority that inhibits youth in post-colonial West Africa.The play, which was created in Senegal, jumps from one language (Wolof) to another (French), but is not only accessible to a wide audience thanks to the surtitles in German, but is also conveyed through the dance-acrobatic form.

The story of an awakening - a play with dance and music. Kécouta Camara and Jean Louis Manga from the Yaak'art ensemble of the Djarama Theater in Senegal, with whom the play, written and directed by Luise Rist in Wolof and French, was created.

The play celebrated its Senegalese premiere at our friend Theater Djarama in July 2025 in Toubab Dialaw / Senegal. The play is now coming to Göttingen and will make a guest appearance in France at the Sens Interdits Festival in Lyon in October.

Language: French and Wolof, with German surtitles
Duration: approx. 60 minutes

ONLINE-TICKETS are available HERE!

Background: The African dream

These days, a number of young people have once again set off, boarding one of the brightly painted fishing boats on the Petite Cote, Senegal's picturesque coastline, bound for Europe. There are many reasons why the young people want to emigrate and embark on the most dangerous escape route in the world. What is clear, however, according to the inhabitants there, is that no one would embark on this catastrophic journey if it were possible to travel legally to other European countries. If traveling was an option! If people in Africa could travel like we do. If they had a choice. If they could save on a ticket instead of money for the smuggler. Actors Kécouta Camara and Jean Louis Manga say they would like to have this choice and then not necessarily want to stay in Europe.

"We no longer want to dream of Europe."

The boat that left the sandy beach of Toubab Dialaw this week has not arrived anywhere, debris is still washing up during our rehearsal time.
Migration and flight are constant topics in the German news. The more forbidding the borders are built, the stronger the desires behind the fence grow. Kécouta and Jean Louis are acrobats who fly to us legally, almost normally, with a play in their luggage. The play is their visa. A chance for both sides to learn something about each other.

The cooperation came about during a visit to the Djarama cultural institution in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal, which offers young people with no prospects training in theater and at the same time teaches them the basics of organic farming. The project was founded by puppeteer Mamby Mawine. Djarama and boat people project merge for the first time for the African Dream. Luise Rist staged the play with the two actors Kécouta Camara and Jean Louis Manga in Senegal.

"For a moment, I thought you were my brother..."

The play, which the director Luise Rist wrote for the two actors, is also a comedy, despite or perhaps because of the drama of the circumstances; Hibou and Arthur, played by Kécouta and Jean Louis, 20 and 22 years old, sink and resurface - instead of Europe, they have landed on a Senegalese beach of the rich, and through their eyes we discover a little bit of ourselves. No matter how rich or poor we are.

"Could you give me a drink of water? I'm thirsty."
"I am inconsolable. But I can't. I've already drunk from the bottle... "

The play, a collaboration between two small theaters, is set on two continents. How different will the audience be, what will happen to the African dream en route?

TEAM

Play and director: Luise Rist
Acting: Kécouta Camara and Jean Louis Manga
Music: Justin Ciuche
Set: Alessandro Fanni and Adama Cissé
Project management: Birte Müchler and Olivier Guillochon
Production assistant: Shwaibe Nzisabira
Technical: Janin Siepmann
Photos in Senegal (beach): Justin Ciuche
Photos in Germany (stage): Sebastian Dohm

Thanks to Thomas Eva for building the surtitling screen!

Tickets

Tickets are available online at Reservix.de, at all known advance booking offices and directly at the box office.

Admission is via a solidarity contribution. This means that we offer three different price categories (8€/12€/16€), between which you can choose freely. Everyone can pay as much as they want and can afford. Students of the University of Göttingen receive free admission at the box office upon presentation of their Kulturticket.

Panel discussion

On Sunday, 12.10., there will be a panel discussion following the theater performance - on the topic of

NO SHAME! Faith in your luggage
Migration experiences between shame, identity and postcolonial narratives

with Maham Naseer, research assistant and doctoral candidate at the Chair of Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology at the Georg August University of Göttingen and Dr. Sophia Omokanye, research assistant for Intercultural Theology, Institute for World Church and Mission, Frankfurt am Main

Moderation: Luise Rist, author and director of THE AFRICAN DREAM

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