Koulounisation

In his first celebrated theatre piece, Salim Djaferi deconstructs the language of colonization with plenty of humor and caustic irony. For research, the son of parents with an Algerian immigration background traveled to Algiers in 2018; on site, he informed himself on Algeria’s colonization and the bloody transition to independence. When he failed at finding the section on the “Algerian War” in a bookstore, the saleswoman explained to him kindly that he would have to check the section “Revolution” instead. He began investigating the power of words, their background, effect and meaning, and he understood that how history is perceived and explained is a question of perspective.

KOULOUNISATION is borne of intimate stories and linguistic interferences that emerge when the reality of the repressed meets the language of a colonial power. On the French side, the violence was (also) faded out: One spoke of “operations to maintain order” or “Algerian events”.

On the interface between theatre and visual arts, Salim Djaferi looks at his own family history as well as collective trauma with earnestness, self-irony and plenty of sensitivity. He weaves a net of language, creates connections, infuses, squeezes, separates, drills and pesters. He ruminates, recognizes and digests. And he demands transparency!

He presents his playful and simultaneously painfully sensitive material in the style of a clever lecture in which he includes the audience via subtle interactions. And he tells another chapter of the story of the revolution! Salim Djaferi, who studied theatre in Liege at the Königlichen Konservatorium (ESACT), is an actor, author and director. He lives and works in Brussels.

www.habemuspapam.be