Hereroland on stage
Hereroland, a multi-disciplinary performance on the genocide of the Herero, is an extraordinary collaboration of artists from Namibia and Germany that grapple together with their communal colonial past and its consequences for the present: the colonial crimes and the genocide committed against the Herero and Nama in 1904.The bilateral examination scrutinizes from several perspectives this moment in history and its consequences, which can still be felt today. With the help of historical documents and contemporary interviews, it contrasts the experiences and opinions of the German perpetrators and their descendants with those of the descendants of the Herero.
David Ndjavera, named Namibia’s best director and himself a Herero descendent, staged this production together with the German director Gernot Grünewald, who has already presented the production Oshi-Deutsch at NTN in 2016 and is well known for his documentary theatre work on political themes.
Together with costume designer Cynthia Schimming, the cast developed and premiered the piece at Thalia Theater in Hamburg in 2020. Now, three years later, Hereroland will be presented in a new version at the National Theatre of Namibia in Windhoek.
In a digital parcours with VR glasses, the audience is transported to some of the original sites of the genocide and other locations related to the story in Namibia and Germany. Scenes filmed there combine with live-acted parts recently adapted by Lizette Kavari and the actors and musician involved.
The world premiere of the hybrid version takes place on 29 June in the National Theatre.
On 30 June the performance will be live-streamed to Hamburg, bridging the continents and enabling an exchange between the creators and the audiences of both countries. The matinee on that same day will be free of charge for students and learners.
Further performances:
• 30 June @ 20:00
• 1 July @ 13:00 (free for learners and students) and again at 19:00
After this, the show will go on the road to Swakopmund, Okakarara and Otjinene.
The cast consists of Otja Kambaekua, Ben Kandukira, Lizette Kavari, Glenn-nora Tjipura, West Uarije, Gift Uzera, Jonas Anders and Jörg Pohl.