The strength and activism of Congolese women is celebrated through poetry, movement and song in this co- commissioned piece by Certain Blacks and Kimpavita, part of the Black Athena Festival showing at Rich Mix this March and April at The Place.
I don’t know very much about Congo, but I do know from documentaries I have watched over the years that it was once a powerful and prosperous kingdom. I also know that its history has been marked by many periods of brutal colonization and wars. Though we don’t seem to hear about it in the mainstream news, there is an ongoing and catastrophic humanitarian crisis marked by widespread violence and massive internal displacement.
The situation being specifically dire, for women, girls, and boys in the face of systemic sexual violence, forced recruitment, and extreme food insecurity * I know there is more to the history and culture than this, but this is essential context for a piece centring Congolese women, and all women fighting for visibility, justice and transformation.
The piece opens with the stage bathed in a warm orange light. Pid’or and Dominica are dressed in striking costumes of the same colour. Pid’or chants “Sun, earth, wind and land, find me here in my home. I am Congo” At times, she appears to be lovingly cradling a baby in her arms. Early on, we feel grounded in the earth, and the importance of the land and the connection to it for these two women. They move rhythmically around a minimalist set which works well because they hold your attention throughout this relatively short piece. There is power and vulnerability here, which is embodied with depth and commitment by the two women in every movement.
You feel they are emotionally invested in the material. French and English are used throughout, and excerpts of speeches, soundscapes, and song are woven together in a compelling and impactful demonstration of womanhood and the steadfast refusal to be reduced to hollow stereotypes.
There was a scene with frenzied panting and cries which made my breath catch in my throat. The brief sense of panic it created electrified the air and brought with it a sense of foreboding. An extended scene, where both Pid’or and Dominica each begin slowly to remove what we see then are layers of garments being shed like skins. I was fraught. Something in their movements and expressions, as these pieces were pulled away and laid on the floor, called to mind violence in the midst of war. Once several layers were removed the single set piece became a doorway, through which one dancer could climb to reach the other.
When she reached for her counterpart, (or perhaps the other was startled by the touch. When the women later embrace, I felt the importance of women standing together in strength and vulnerability, and I was still hearing the rousing words that had been shared throughout. Challenging us, compelling us not to see Congolese women through a narrative of victimhood. What if we choose, as a brief audio clip invites us to do, and instead see the potential they carry on their backs.
A rousing piece, performed with conviction and heart.
Founded by Clive Lyttle and centred on performance, sound and dance, Black Athena Festival features artists from the UK and beyond, fostering innovative international collaborations while presenting and platforming bold new work.
Need to Know: Black Athena Festival culminates at The Place on 17 and 18 April. See listing. Book tickets
*Human Rights Watch. World Report 2026. Online: Accessed: 22.03.2026
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