MASQUISARD

In the organizer's words:

MASQUISARD

Ritual performance by Toutou, le conteur (The Narrator)

In Masquisard (Masque/Mask + Maquisard: resistance fighters from the underground), Toutou Ditchou rekindles the resistance against German and French colonial rule in Cameroon. Between 1955 and 1971, many of the independence fighters were beheaded. No memorial commemorates this. "The Masquisards wanted total independence and fought for it. But those who got involved with the former colonial rulers remained in power"(Toutou Ditchou).

Masquisard is a cathartic work that seeks to soothe the souls affected by a dark chapter in Cameroon's history and stands as a tribute to the martyrs of the independence struggles. "Silence still prevails today-in the past, it was even forbidden to speak of what happened," says Toutou, who advocates for a culture of remembrance.

" Il n'y a pas de réponses sur qui a coupé la tête des Indépendantistes, considérés comme des fauteurs de troubles. Today, even more so, the pain continues... ", says Toutou. And this is reminiscent of the colonial era and the transition to independence. Félix-Roland Moumié, leader of the UPC, the first truly independent political party, demanded independence without conditions. He was ousted in 1960.

Masquisard will be adapted thanks to the support and in cooperation with the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum - Kulturen der Welt in Cologne and shown on June 7 + 8 as part of FROM BANDUNG TO BLM AND BEYOND - A Weekend on Global Freedom Struggles from Bandung to Black Lives Matter . Detailed program: https://rautenstrauch-joest-museum.de The RJM examines the Bandung Conference, a milestone for the liberation of the global South, at which 29 representatives from Asian and African countries met in Indonesia in April 1955, and shows the connections between the freedom struggles in Africa, South America and Asia, the US civil rights and Black Power movements and the Pan-African festivals. These were not independent events, but parts of a global struggle against racism, colonialism and economic exploitation.

WITH Toutou Ditchou | SUPPORTED BY MODAPERF (Cameroon) | THE ADAPTION IN COLOGNE IS SUPPORTED BY THE CITY OF COLOGNE'S CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

RAUTENSTRAUCH-JOEST-MUSEUM - CULTURES OF THE WORLD | EUROPE PREMIERE | June 7 & 8, 15 h each | June 19 & 21, 14 h each | DURATION 0:50 h | LANGUAGE none

Price information:

The performance is being adapted thanks to the support of and in cooperation with the RAUTENSTRAUCH-JOEST-MUSEUM - Kulturen der Welt in Cologne. The performances on June 7 and 8 at 3 p.m. will take place outside the africologneFESTIVAL. You will need a regular one-way ticket for the permanent exhibition at the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum. You can purchase the ticket at the box office. You can find more information about admission to the museum here: www.museenkoeln.de/rautenstrauch-joest-museum/Service