{"id":152636,"date":"2025-09-29T16:51:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T14:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humboldtforum.org\/?post_type=event-multi&p=152636"},"modified":"2025-11-26T14:23:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T13:23:53","slug":"people-of-song","status":"publish","type":"event-multi","link":"https:\/\/www.humboldtforum.org\/en\/programm\/event\/music-theatre\/people-of-song-152636\/","title":{"rendered":"People of Song"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Aniros wants to share her music with the whole world, but the distrust her father and grandmother feel toward strangers blocks her path. When a mysterious visitor arrives in her village, long-hidden truths are revealed, shaking both family and community. The encounter forces her to confront the past and discover new paths for the future. In a gripping tale, past, loss, and forgiveness collide.<\/em><\/p>\n

People of Song is a collaborative project by a Namibian-German artist collective that fuses music, theatre, and choral singing into a captivating total work of art. Developed through research with Namibian cultures and the Phonogram Archive of the Ethnological Museum in Berlin, this music theatre piece tells the story of an intense transnational collaboration that transcends borders and unleashes creative energy.<\/p>\n

At its heart lies a shared vision: to use art as a powerful tool to illuminate socially relevant themes such as memory, identity, and transformation. People of Song<\/em> is far more than a music theatre project \u2013 it is a polyphonic cultural dialogue that touches, moves, and inspires reflection: multifaceted, emotional, and highly topical.<\/p>\n

A project within the framework of the city partnerships Windhoek\u2013Berlin and Windhoek\u2013Bremen.
\n<\/em>In cooperation with Kulturprojekte Berlin and with support from the Lotto Stiftung Berlin.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Synopsis<\/h3>\n

1. Act<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aniros lives in a multicultural community in Namibia and participates passionately in the annual rain festival. She loves the songs and traditions of her culture, but also dreams of sharing her own music with the world. When she wants to travel to other communities to sing her songs, her family stands in the way. Grandmother Ouma worries too much about her and father Tsaudago sees Aniros\u2019 dreams of music and travel as a threat to family stability. A generational conflict arises, which Ouma tries to resolve by telling a story in front of the community.<\/p>\n

2. Act<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meanwhile in Germany, Hermann inherits an artefact from his suddenly passed father. He remembers him as a distant, busy businessman, that now leaves him with this strange object. At first, Hermann plans to sell this unknown thing as soon as possible. But when he holds it in his hands, he feels an inexplicable connection and realizes the responsibility that comes with it. He decides to return the artefact himself and find out more about its origins and his father’s history.<\/p>\n

3. Act<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hermann travels to Namibia and is guided by Aniros through a lively market, where Ouma suddenly intervenes and pulls Aniros away. Later, Hermann meets Tsaudago in a bar, tells him about the artefact, and the two decide to investigate its origin together. They find out that the artefact belongs to Ouma and was once stolen by Hermann’s father, which reopens old wounds. In the end, the community is reconciled through music, while Ouma slowly realizes that Hermann is not like his father, and Tsaudago and Aniros accept him as a friend and look for ways to come to terms with their family history.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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Participants<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
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Composers:
\nErna Chimu, Engelhardt #Unaeb, Eslon Hindundu, Zikizee Hangero, Michael Mutago Doeseb,
\nOsmond !Owoseb, David Haoseb, Victor Ardelean and traditional Namibian Music
\nMusical Architect, Overall Composition and Conductor: Marco Heise
\nConductor: Natasha Kitavi
\nStage Director: Kim Mira Meyer
\nDramaturge: Jason Kooper
\nChoir Direction: Osmond !Owoseb
\nChoreography: Marchell Linus
\nSet Design: Jonathan Kitavi und Gretl Kautzsch
\nCostumes: YAMWE Windhoek und Marscha Kaffer
\nArtistic Consulting: Vitjitua Ndjiharine
\nOrchestral Arrangement Assistant: Christian Nelz<\/p>\n

Musicians of the Youth Symphony Orchestra Bremen of the Music School Bremen and Studioorchester der Universit\u00e4t der K\u00fcnste Berlin<\/p>\n

Cast:
\nNatasha Kitavi as Aniros
\nDiolini \/ Uiras as Ouma
\nEslon Hindundu as Tsaudago
\nDavid Wehr as Hermann<\/p>\n

People of Song Ensemble:
\nJo-Anna Shapumbe as Julia
\nLyvodia Ouses as Magano
\nAngelina Akawa as Meudho
\nDonovan Welly Seibeb as Simasiku
\nNythen Dien as Mitiri Herunga
\nTove Jeomba Kangotue as Tate Nyambe<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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