Nigeria: Painting the Town Red

28 December 2014

The late afternoon series of performances titled, 12 Squares came with a map which contained the floor plan for the performance area. The map was handed to everyone who came in to watch the show which was initiated by the German Cultural centre, Goethe Institut. The rooftop of the City Hall on Catholic Mission Street, Lagos Island was the stage for the variety show that lasted for about three hours. Of the performances, "Red" was outstanding for the relevance of its theme on domestic violence.

It was a common scenario at home, performed in an unusual style that married minimalist approach to realism. A female dancer, clad in long white dress, approached the audience with a telling look that communicated pain. She reached for the mopping stick, dancing and cleaning up the floor. She also mimed other chores such as fetching water and general cleaning of the household. Not long into the performance, a male dancer showed up. From the sweet tango to the violent push, the oscillating emotions of love and hate were captured. After what seemed to the audience to be a persistent struggle between the couple, the man firmly covered the woman's mouth to keep her silent. Such is the predicament of the victim of domestic violence.

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