Artist-in-Residence Program 2024: “Art as Participation in Social Discourse”

Art is much more than creative expression – at Opera Village, it serves as a pathway to a better understanding of other perspectives and foreign realities of life. Intercultural exchange is an essential resource for navigating our globalized world, and Opera Village has been a vibrant place of dialogue, encounter, and international collaboration for over a decade.

Under the theme “Art as Participation in Social Discourse,” we invite three artists in 2024 – Godelive Kasangati Kabena (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Christopher Nelson Obuh (Nigeria), and Leila Bencharnia (Morocco) – to use Opera Village as a space for both living and working. This year, we are particularly excited to actively involve the local population in the program. Together with three partner organizations – the Centre de Développement Chorégraphique La Termitière, the Fasocheck Association, and Radio AWU – we have developed an interactive workshop offering on topics such as media literacy, women’s rights, and intercultural dialogue, making art a tool for social change. The artists will be integrated into the design and implementation of the workshops, exploring creative ways to discuss complex societal issues – an approach that will have an impact beyond the borders of Burkina Faso.

We believe that “we can learn from Africa” – especially through art. It shows us the importance of facing challenges with creativity, resilience, and a sense of community. This connection between art and social discourse is at the heart of our program. By bringing artists and cultural creators together, we build bridges between continents and foster an intercultural dialogue based on mutual respect and openness. This is what Opera Village Africa stands for.

This year’s Artist-in-Residence Program is supported by