Bringing together theater, music, and the aromas and flavors of food, this performance reminds us of the colonial history still at play in our kitchens.
Eva Doumbia’s Autophagies (Self-eaters), presented by Ashé Cultural Arts Center, is a journey to a place somewhere between Africa and Europe, where distinct native ingredients come together in culinary creations that delight the senses. In this place — led by a chef, a musician, a dancer, and a mistress of ceremony — we will move beyond tastes and smells into the political dimension of food, exploring the origins of select ingredients and dishes and their movement through slavery, colonization, and exploitation.
Once the stories have been told for the evening and the hidden histories illuminated, we will share mafé, a traditional West African stew prepared by the chef during the performance.
Suggested donation: $20
The production Autophagies has received the support of FACE Contemporary Theater, a program of Villa Albertine and FACE Foundation, in partnership with the French Embassy in the United States, with support from The Ford Foundation, Institut français, the French Ministry of Culture, and private donors.
Credits:
Text Eva Doumbia, Armand Gauz
Direction Eva Doumbia
With Massidi Adiatou, Alexandre Bella Ola, Eva Doumbia, Lionel Elian, Karen-Kaia Livers, Olga Mouak, Angelica-Kiyomi Tisseyre
With the participation of Donald Lewis Jr.
Assistant Direction Karima El Kharraze, Sophie Zanone
Music and Songs Lionel Elian
Choreography Massidi Adiatou
Costumes and Visual Universe Sylvain Wavrant
Lighting Design Stéphane Babi Aubert
Lighting Engineer Yannick Brisset
General & Stage Manager Loïc Jouanjan
Video Design Sandrine Reisdorffer
Images Charles Ouitin, Lionel Elian
Sound Design & Engineer Cédric Moglia
Artistic Collaboration Fabien Aïssa Busetta
Production/Administration Cerise Praxy
Translation/US Tour Production Amelia Parenteau
Production La Part du Pauvre/Nana Triban
Co-production Théâtre du Nord, CDN Lille-Tourcoing-Hauts de France • Théâtre du Point du Jour, Lyon
With the support of la DRAC Normandie • Normandy Region • Ville d’Elbeuf • les Grandes Tables (Friche la Belle de Mai–Marseille)
– Fonds d’Insertion pour Jeunes Artistes Dramatiques • French Consulate in New Orleans • LSU (French Department in Baton Rouge,
LA) • Commission Internationale du Théâtre Francophone • FACE Contemporary Theater, a program of Villa Albertine and FACE
Foundation, in partnership with the French Embassy of the United States, with support from the Ford Foundation, Institut français,
the French Ministry of Culture, and private donors • Théâtre de la Joliette, Marseille
With assistance from Anis Gras-Le Lieu de l’autre, Arcueil • Fundamental Monodrama Festival, Luxembourg• Kumaso, Bamako •
N’Soleh, Abidjan • Centre Social de la Savine, Marseille • Ateliers Médicis, Clichy-Montfermeil • Beauport-Guadeloupe • la Chapelle
du Verbe incarné, Avignon • l’Entrepôt, Paris
Special thanks to Sarah Epiard and family, Elisabeth Gustave, Armelle Olili Zako and family, Patrick Gufflet, Valérie Crestée and
Frédéric Shmitt, Hélène Harder, Marine N'Guyen Bachelot, the Doumbia in Anyama.