We will find a way to dance
ARTICLE 15
Language No Problem
By:
Florent Mahoukou, AfroVibes Festival
Age:
Youth and adults
Genre:
Physical theater, Dance, Dance theater
Rotterdam
IN SHORT: Article 15 is inspired by the Congolese philosophy of débrouiller vous (“fend for yourself”), which celebrates self-reliance, resilience, and resourcefulness. In this performance, young dancers from Brazzaville show how creativity, humor, and determination help them navigate the challenges of their environment.
Article 15 refers to a well known unwritten philosophy in Congo Brazzaville: débrouiller vous (fend for yourself). It speaks to self reliance, resourcefulness and the daily art of survival. Choreographer Florent Mahoukou uses this as the starting point for a dance performance in which young performers from Brazzaville’s contemporary dance scene show themselves to be a generation refusing to be limited by the circumstances in which they grow up.
On stage, beer crates, symbols of consumption and alienation, are constantly transformed and given new meaning. They become shelters, rhythm instruments, building blocks and places of encounter. With perseverance, humour and ingenuity, the dancers move through a world that imposes limits, while imagination continues to open up new possibilities. Through resilience, creativity and the power of dance, they discover new ways of living in today’s world.
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AFROVIBES FESTIVAL 2026: SOIL | SOUL
Afrovibes Festival presents contemporary dance, theatre, and music by artists from Africa and the African diaspora in the Netherlands. Through an African perspective, they explore urgent global issues such as identity, belonging, history, and the future. Unique and thought-provoking performances give a platform to stories and perspectives that are often overlooked.
The theme of Afrovibes Festival 2026 is Soil | Soul. In a world where land is increasingly at the center of conflict and power struggles, African artists examine the meaning of land, ancestry, and spiritual connection. In many African worldviews, land is more than territory—it is a source of memory, ancestors, rituals, and identity. What does it mean to be connected to the ground on which you live, and what happens when that connection to your origins is disrupted?
Credits
Florent Mahoukou
Karel Kouelany, Anouchka Domingo, Sabrina Louhoussou, Pierre Arnold Mahoukou, Jones Nkodia
Aimée Patricia Mavoungou
Aimée Patricia Mavoungou
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