Opera Village Africa

Opera Village Africa (French: Village-Opéra Afrique, German: Operndorf Afrika) is an arts education project located in Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso. It was initiated by the German film and theatre director, actor, and artist, Christoph Schlingensief.[1] It is operated by Festspielhaus Afrika as a non-proft GmbH (limited company) based in Germany.[2] The first phase was completed in November 2011.[3]

Aerial view
Teachers' houses

Concept

The Opera Village's artistic projects are developed by people who are committed to the Opera Village and who develop themselves further in this process. Already during its initial phase, the Opera Village provides a space in which cultural encounters, workshops and exchange take place. Since the end of 2012, theatre performances, film shows and storytelling evenings have been taking place regularly;[4] actual opera is not part of the curriculum.

Buildings

To realise the project, in the year 2008 Christoph Schlingensief brought on board architect and development activist Diébédo Francis Kéré, who was born in Burkina Faso. Kéré brings together a traditional building style with ecological and sustainable concepts using sustainable materials. The buildings are built by the local population who have undergone construction training. Here, Kéré also places value on air conditioning, achieving cooling by using his specially developed construction materials. In 2010, the foundation stone was laid and the area was connected to the public water system and electricity grid. 2011 saw the opening of 16 buildings including the primary school, which takes on 50 new pupils every year. In addition to school subjects, the children are also taught film, art and music classes.[5]

In April 2012, building work began on the hospital consisting of a primary medical care unit, a maternity ward and a dental care unit. It is to be completed in April 2013 and start active operations in May 2013. So that the Opera Village is able to attain long-term self-sufficiency, an alternative energy supply is planned for the hospital in the form of a solar energy plant which is to be installed in May 2013. A football pitch has already been completed and a children's play area is to be added this year. The "Festspielhaus" – a place of cultural encounter – at the centre of the grounds will form the heart of the project.

References
  1. Hegenbart, Sarah. (2012) "A New Idea of Art: Christoph Schlingensief and the Opera Village Africa". The White Review, Issue 5.
  2. Website Village Opera Africa
  3. The Art Newspaper, "First phase of African opera village completed 1 November 2011"
  4. Website Village Opera Africa
  5. "Schlingensief's Opera village in Africa comes to life", German Information Centre Africa, 11 May 2012
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