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Research Articles

East African Soul Train: producing performance and creating atmosphere

Pages 490-500 | Published online: 13 Aug 2019
 

ABSTRACT

Despite a diverse and vibrant contemporary artistic scene, East Africa sees less international exposure than other regions on the continent; this article argues that a new approach to understanding the complexities and value of performance in the region is fundamental to developing the sector. East African Soul Train is a pop-up residency, which takes artists on a journey to connect and collaborate with other artists from across the region and beyond. This paper explores how an emphasis on the production of atmosphere can challenge outcome-based narratives currently driven by academics, funders and practitioners thinking about performance in the region.

Acknowledgement

This article has been supported towards publication as the runner-up of the TaPRA Postgraduate Essay Prize 2018.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Poppy Spowage is a Creative Producer and Researcher, with experience delivering arts training, exchange and performance projects in the UK, East Africa, Asia and Latin America. Based in East Africa, Poppy is Co-founder of East African Soul Train, a pop-up residency for artists from across the region and beyond, and a PhD candidate in Drama and Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Notes

1. EAST is a collaboration between individual creative professionals and organisations. It is shaped by a collective of creatives from the region and beyond. Founded by Geraldine Hepp and Poppy Spowage in 2016, EAST has been brought to life through collaborations with organisations, ventures and foundations such as What’s Good Studios (KE), Distant Relatives Backpackers (KE), Creatives Garage (KE), British Council (EA) and Africalia (BE). The core team making things happen throughout one or more editions has featured: Adam Chienjo, Brian Msafiri, Checkmate Mido, Chrissie Thompson, Evans Campbell, George Gikaria, Geraldine Hepp, Jojo Abot, Maimouna Jallow, Marion Munga, Marla Degathi, Mirembe Musisi, Patience Asaba Katushabe, Poppy Spowage, Sarah Drain, Sarah Mallia and Yule Burlefinger. Our current partners include: CDEA (TZ), Creatives Garage (KE), BASATA (TZ), TaSUBa (TZ), Burning Man (US), Techne and Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK), Goethe Institute (EA), British Council (EA), MeshWorks (UK), Africalia (BE), Bayimba (UG) and FireFly (TZ).

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