The Pan Afrikan collective, Isusu Ffena, will host a festival from the 12th to 13th of August 2022, themed 'Community and Identity in our Cityscape'. This year’s festival will take place at Callie’s in Wedding, Berlin.
Isusu Ffena which translates to "us together" in Shona and Luganda is a festival that revolves around the idea of togetherness. We create a common ground to stand on - where a sense of empathy with one another can thrive, building a culture that encompasses the very ideals of social sustainability; celebration, visibility, inclusivity and equity. This year we are bringing you all together to celebrate the diversity of black communities and identities in the cityscape.
We require you to embody the following values while you enjoy the Isusu Ffena Festival: Respect, Inclusion, Openness, Support and Community. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safer environment for everybody. Unacceptable behaviour includes: Racism, ableism, misogyny, misogynoir, transphobia, transmisogyny, transmisogynoir, homophobia, biphobia, classism, fatphobia, body shaming & colourism.
Tickets will be available at the door. Children under 12 enter for free. no outside drinks are allowed in the venue.
FRIDAY 12 AUGUST 2022
EXHIBITION OPENING & KUSINA MAI LISTENING SESSION
Friday 12 August 2022
16.00 - 18.00
In the opening event we will have the chance to collectively listen to a playlist curated by Nontsikelelo Mutiti and conversations on migration experiences from various members of the African Diaspora in Germany.
With the sounds in the background, guests will have the chance to enjoy a photography exhibitions by Médine Tidou, Wonai Hauperi, Simba Mafundikwa and Wandy Pascal, on the theme community and identity in a new cityscape. Tanatsei Gambura's multimedia work will also be included in the exhibition. The exhibition is curated by Nora Chirikure.
POETRY SESSION WITH TANAKA CHIDORA & TANATSEI GAMBURA
Friday 12 August 2022
19.00 - 20.00
In this session we will hear readings from poets Tanatsei Gambura(virtually) and Tanaka Chidora. Both of whom take a deep dive into different city scapes in their writing and help us view the cityscape with a new lense. The poets will then be in discussion with Tsitsi Mareika Chirikure a literature enthusiast who is part of the Isusu Ffena Team. We invite our audience to come with open ears for the spoken word and poetry reading but also to be willing to speak and ask questions. We want to explore our identities in the cityscape of Berlin and we hope you will come along on this journey with us.
PERFORMANCE BY AKA KELZZ + DJ SESSION BY ZEN
Friday 12 August 2022
20.00 - 22.30
In this session we will have the chance to experience a live set by AKA KELZZ and creating a relaxed summer mood for us to enjoy. With drinks on sale and exhibitions to view and a chance to chat and mingle, this session is all about good vibes. Following this will be Zen Jefferson who on the decks turning the mood into a party so you can dance your way into the weekend and the festival.
AKA KELZZ was born and raised in the UK but now resides in Berlin and provides a nurturing and caressing vibe that is smooth and confronting and that lets people feel what I feel with my creation. Basslines and Drums which give you a hug, dominating voice from the words, it makes you listen. When you look at me and when you hear, you don’t assume it will match. I'm very simple but words do the work.
Zen Jefferson (he/they) is a Black & Queer multinational dancer / performer, DJ & NY Bessie nominated sound collage artist based in Berlin. Zen's collaborations and practice examine the intersections of cultural and spiritual expansion within performance and ritual - exploring themes of intimacy, race, community & sound as a transformative vessel for connection and healing.
SATURDAY 13 AUGUST 2022
MARKET DAY WITH PERFORMANCES BY T R V N I A & SIMBA CI
Saturday 13 August 2022
12.00 - 17.00
This market day is about promoting black business owners in Berlin. Business owners from all walks of business will be invited to come and share their products with the rest of the community. Performances by poet TRVNIA and singer Simba Ci will also be a part of the event and the overall theme of the market day is one of celebration and black joy.
Sellers include Herdeiros, C’Joli and Off Cut Kenya amongst others.
MBIRA WORKSHOP
Saturday 13 August 2022
12.30 - 14.00
Mbira also known as a kalimba or thumb piano is an instrument that is very special in the art of story telling amongst Shona people of Zimbabwe. It is known to be an instrument which can help people to communicate with the ancestors. Tichaona will be teaching the basics of this wonderful instrument in a one and a half hour workshop. if you have your own mbira feel free to bring it along, otherwise mbira's will be provided for all the people who have registered for the event.
About Tichaona
Tichaona Kufamazuva grew up immersed in the Shona traditions. He learned about mbira music and he would like to keep this knowledge alive. He wants to be part of the history of mbira and how one can learn to play this ancient instrument in our times.
MULTI-SENSORY PAINTING EXPERIENCE WITH TIARA & TAONA
Saturday 13 August 2022
17.00 - 19.00
This is a multi-sensory experience that loosely follows the format of a guided painting session. In it visual artist Tiara Matonda and sound artist Taona Nyandoro will lead participants through a painting session. The session is divided into five ten minute sections in which the five senses will be explored. By the end of the event, each of the participants will have a painting they have created that they are free to take home! The event includes complimentary snacks and drinks as part of the multi-sensory experience.
MUSICAL EXPERIENCE BY FTL COLLECTIVE (Dancehall, Afrobeats and Amapiano)
Saturday 13 August 2022
20.00 - 22.30
The closing party will mark the end of the Isusu Ffena Festival 2022. To celebrate all the artists and people who have contributed to make the festival a reality we will be having a good feel party with DJs from the FTL Collective. Come and enjoy sets by DJ Vanta Lynx and Femdelafem the Gardener from the FTL Collective playing a mix of Dancehall, Afrobeats and Amapiano.
Music is a universal experience with the ability to change, enhance and transforms anyone’s day, hour, minute, moment and what we seek is that experience of transforming and transporting people to and experience of pure bliss whether it’s through nostalgia, passion, love, excitement, or joy.
About the FTL Collective
“We are always experimenting and searching for that 'perfect' set that will take not only us but our audience on a journey while narrating the experience through the music.In addition, we are an open collective for other black/brown DJs to learn and play. Check out our alternative City Walks series as we share a different perspective on each city with music that reflects our voice as BIPOC DJs."
You can reach out to FTL Collective on weareftlcollective@gmail.com