Makers of colour are increasingly interested in their African roots and to exchange artistic knowledge and experience with African makers and artists. This is why Afrovibes is giving this opportunity with Moving Beyond. In this collaboration between artists from Africa and the Netherlands, they look not for differences but for the best practices and similarities in each other’s work and discover together how to overcome artistic challenges.
This year, Chuma Sopotela from South Africa and Ritzah Statia from the Netherlands will take up the challenge. They will treat the audience first to solo performances and then a brand new piece the two created in three weeks for the festival.

About the creators
Ritzah Statia is a physical theatre maker, urban dancer, mimer and spoken word performer, and artistic member of RIGHTABOUTNOW INC. Her work is mainly based on and revolves around Afro-Caribbean culture and hip-hop culture, her Antillean background and black women. Statia graduated from the Mime course at the Academy for Theatre and Dance (AHK). She is also a theatre and dance teacher. Her debut performance ‘Kibra Silensio’ (Break the silence) won the Best of Amsterdam Fringe Award 2021 and received nominations for the Joop Mulder Plak 2021 and the BNG BANK Theaterprijs 2022.

Chuma Sopotela is a multi-award-winning actor, director, choreographer and performance artist. She was named the 2018 Standard Bank Young Artist in the Performance Art category. For her role in the play Karoo Moose, she received the 2007 Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Actress.