Jolie Ngemi

MBOK'ELENGI

danse

1h
B Accessible to persons with reduced mobility

Chorégraphie: Jolie Ngemi. Dramaturgie: Hannah Pfurtscheller. Interprétation: Guelord Vulu, Sephora Mutubulu Lesa, Donnel Bangusa Emwila, Isaac Mutashi Tshipema, Jolie Ngemi. Lumières: Edouard Hugli. Scénographie: Gaëlle Chérix. Musique: Rokia Bamba et Yekima De Bel Art. Costumes: Jolie Ngemi. Production exécutive: Le Voisin Productions. Diffusion: Jérôme Pique. Production: Cie AUC. Coproductions: Arsenic – Centre d’art scénique contemporain, STUK - Arts Center vzw, HAU Hebbel am Ufer, KVS, KAAP, De Singel. Soutiens: Canton de Vaud, Loterie Romande, Fondation Artlink, La Fondation suisse des artistes interprètes SIS, Fondation Corymbo, Corodis.
Avec le soutien de la Fondation d’entreprise Hermès.

In Lingala, “MBOK’ELENGI” evokes a country filled with joie de vivre. Adopted by Congolese youth, this concept has become a popular slogan in the streets of Kinshasa. It highlights a vision of life and expresses joy, pleasure, and ecstasy. Choreographer and dancer Jolie Ngemi presents a dynamic piece where dancers exalt the splendors of their regions. On stage, five dancers reinterpret famous Congolese dances from the Sebene musical style. A form of joyful ecstasy emerges from the choreography. Movements inspired by the deep desire for liberation from the fight against injustices in Congo.

The piece questions the codes of supremacy that deepen inequalities, further impoverishing the most vulnerable for the benefit of the richest. It is through joy as a force of revolt that MBOK’ELENGI aims to be a source of inspiration.

Statement of Intent
“MBOK’ELENGI elaborates a fantastic and singular universe, where the splendor of our regions is exalted, accompanied by the pride of living there and spreading our conviviality throughout the world. By saying that there is not only darkness where we come from.” Jolie Ngemi

Jolie Ngemi is a performer of contemporary and urban dances, choreographer, and musician.

In 2011, she worked alongside Ula Sickle and Yann Leguay for her solo piece Jolie, created in Seoul, South Korea, followed by a tour in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and Austria.
In 2012, she was booked to represent women artists at the New-York Live Arts Festival.
In 2013, she began a two-year cursus at P.A.R.T.S. in Brussels. She was then noticed by the choreographer Boris Charmatz. Together, the produces two pieces: Danse de nuit – about the terrorist attack at Charlie Hebdo and 10 000 gestes. Both pieces toured in France, Brussels, London, Germany and Switzerland.
In 2018, she created her first solo piece Identity na ngayi at La Bâtie – Festival in Geneva. This performance was played in Basel, Brussels, and Utrecht.
In 2019, she had several performances as well as animated workshops in the Brussels area and at the Tictac Center. At the beginning of 2020, she was hired as a teacher at the Academy of Amsterdam. That same year, she took part of Serge Aymé Coulibaly’s new work: Wakat.

She founded her own production company AUC production and the performing arts festival BOSANGANI. The 2nd edition of the festival took place in August 2022 in Kinshasa with a lineup of European and African dancers and master classes, performances, and talks.