About:

Project title: ‘Ligala’ homestead

 

​Concept:

LIGALA is a luo word meaning a newly established homestead. 

Goyo LIGALA is the process of a married Luo man moving from his father’s compound to establish their own homestead.

​This work explores the ceremonial process of rite of passage and its significance; it looks at symbols and the transition from one chapter of life to another. Why are there cultural elements that need to be observed for one to be able to establish a homestead? For example, traditionally the man's father would identify where the son would build his home and both proceed to tie grass on that spot. Three chicken eggs that had failed to hatch would be placed on that spot, the reason for this, it is thought that someone would try to carry witchcraft activities in the land to ensure the establishment of the home would not be successful and if people started to live there they would be faced with life sufferings. The significance of the eggs was to ward off such witchcraft attempts just like the eggs failed to hatch thus their efforts would fail to materialize. 

 

On the morning of the third day the man will move out of his father’s compound and start his, he will bring with him fire, his first son, a cock, an axe, a machete and last in the line a partner woman carrying food.

 

The invasion of modernism, religious shift, financial obstacles, all these thoughts are what the artist is exploring in the work.

This piece is being re-worked on for the digital phase. It was first conceived in 2011 and staged in Nairobi Kenya during solos and duet.

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​Concept and choreography ​- Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno

Assistant choreographer - Kebaya Moturi

Music - Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno, Aoko, Abu & Adis

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