INBOX/SALZ UND SAÜLEN in Burkina Faso
What do Yodeling and Soul from Burkina Faso have in common? More than one might think! As part of our extraordinary theater collaboration across two continents, Burkinabé author and director Sidiki Yougbare and Bern-based director Polina Solotowizki have bridged two seemingly different worlds with their production INBOX/SALZ UND SAÜLEN. The piece combines elements of traditional yodeling and soul music from Burkina Faso, offering a unique perspective on cultural dialogue.
The theater production INBOX/SALZ UND SAÜLEN marked the highlight of our multi-year collaboration with the European Capital of Culture 2024, Bad Ischl. After the premiere in Salzkammergut and a performance in Bodø, Norway, the piece was presented twice in Burkina Faso. The first performance took place in Ouagadougou in collaboration with Les Récréatrales. The play, which explores the confrontation with the foreign as well as one’s own culture and shows ways to communicate despite language barriers, captivated the audience. Loud laughter and thunderous applause accompanied the performance, reflecting the audience’s great interest and enjoyment.
The following evening, the piece was presented at the Opera Village, where it was equally well received by a predominantly young audience. The production, sung in a mix of German, Mooré, and French, allows the performers to connect through music and find a common language for cultural understanding. For the children and young people at Opera Village and from the Ziniaré region, this performance was an important recognition of their own language, culture, and heritage.
The success of these performances marks a crowning achievement of a particularly enriching and international collaboration—a true highlight for all involved and an impressive example of the power of culture to overcome boundaries and create connections!
