Serge-Aimé Coulibaly's 'Kirina' Opens Romaeuropa Festival

The Romaeuropa Festival opens on September 19 with 'Kirina', a performance by choreographer Serge-Aimé Coulibaly (Burkina Faso, 1972). The work, created with Malian singer Rokia Traoré and scholar Felwine Sarr, features 9 dancers, 1 actor, 4 musicians, 2 singers, and 40 extras. It runs at Teatro Argentina from September 19 to 22. 'Kirina' references the historic battle site in present-day Mali that led to the Mali Empire. Coulibaly describes the piece as a continuous march symbolizing human migration, inspired by refugees from Iraq and Syria arriving in Europe three years ago. The performance explores the encounter between African and Western imaginaries, with a 'griot' figure narrating history through slam-rock verses. Sarr, author of 'Afrotopia' and advisor to Macron on restitution of African artworks, contributed the dramaturgical text. Traoré composed and performs the music. Coulibaly emphasizes the political dimension, noting that Europe often views Africa only through immigration, ignoring shared history and cultural richness.