UJAMAA PARADISE | MTTW 2015
Thomas Cornelius Desi
UJAMAA PARADISE
An African Ghost Opera
Premiere
A production of MUSIKTHEATERTAGE WIEN
Ujamaa is a word in Kiswahili, the East African national language, and describes its own form of socialism as coined by the founding father of Tanzania, Julius Kambarage "Mwalimu" Nyerere. Nyerere also translated Shakespeare's drama "Julius Caesar" into his language. A community that is threatened at all times by the power interests of individuals forms the narrative of this music-theatrical experiment with opera professionals, dancers and amateurs from the community, complemented by music from Mozart's "Magic Flute".
Directed by: Thomas Cornelius Desi Assistance: Maida Karišik Costume, stage: Karoline Waller Light: Harald Michlits Hospitancy: Marion Jacquin With: Marie-Christiane Nishimwe (soprano), Bibiana Nwobilo (soprano), Rupert Bergmann (baritone), Mfilinge Nyalusi as "Juliasi Kaizari" and Blair Darby as "Idi Amin Dada", Otalia Sacko, Atuswege Burton, Richard Eronini, Afolabi Oladeji Graf, Katia Ledoux, Bisrat Melaku, Janne Eronini-Attakpah, Minou Graf, Tigist Höhndorf, Yemi Greifeneder as well as members of the Black Women's Community Vienna and Cloud Tissa (voice). Thanks to Radio Africa, Afro-Asian Institute Vienna, www.ethiopianculture.at and, Black Women Community Vienna
