Manthe Ribane and Kami Awori at CROSSROADS
Manthe Ribane from Johannesburg and Kami Awori (composed of Karami and Awori) from Geneva, will collaborate in the context of CROSSROADS, a platform for discussion with a conference and a cultural programme, organised by The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in Geneva and Basel in February 2018.
This collaboration is an initiative of SHAP SHAP to gather these three talented artists to explore and share their politics, identities and creative ideas in both contexts of South Africa and Switzerland.
Ribane and Kami Awori will be presented at Festival Antigel as part of the CUSS’ line up SOUTH AFRICA, WHAT’S UP? including FAKA, Dirty Paraffin, DJ Prie Nkosazana and DJ Lag, following residencies in both contexts [Johannesburg and Geneva], this coming January.
CROSSROADS unites cultural practitioners from Switzerland, India, the Arab world and Southern Africa and offers a multidisciplinary cultural programme lasting three days. Participants include, amongst others, Michael Anklin, Ntando Cele, Zuleikha Chaudhari, Yan Duyvendak, Omar Ghayatt, Dirty Paraffin, Islam Chipsy, Jonas Lüscher, Kesivan Naidoo, Boris Nikitin, Thandi Ntuli, Nur, Janiv Oron, Mandeep Raikhy, Antje Schupp, Mats Staub.
About Manthe Ribane
Manthe is a Soweto-born graphic designer, dancer and performer. She works as a graphic designer at 113 Studios which is co-owned by her siblings, they are experts in conceptual set design as well as film and music.
Manthe made her vocal debut with musician Okzharp in the extended play production titled ‘Dear Ribane’ which was directed by Chris Saunders. This extended play was presented at the Norient Music Film Festival in Bern Switzerland. She has an impressive list of collaborations from posing for renowned photographer Akinbode Akinbiyi, appearing in a South African tourism campaign and dancing on tour with Die Antwoord, the notorious rap-rave band that went global in 2010.
About Kami Awori
Pianist-turned-producer, Karami and singer-songwriter Awori, make up the duo Kami Awori. Their music is a mix of minimalist Electro Soul, Hip Hop & afro–caribbean percussions.
Galvanised by the reception of their debut EP ESQUISSES, the duo embarked on a European tour with “Ca$h, Diamond Rings” singer DENA. Upon their return, they produced #THROWBACK, a compilation of laid–back remixes with a contemporary vibe.The globetrotting duo also recorded their third EP, CARAMELBROWN Y VIA LIBRE, in Havana with the Cuban collective Via Libre.
Kami Awori is currently working on their debut album, created between New–York, Berlin, Kampala, Bamako, Johannesburg & Paris.
About SHAP SHAP
SHAP SHAP is a non-profit organisation that was established in 2015 to take action on inequalities by producing and sharing creative works (performing art, dance/choreography, literature, music/sound, video/film/new media, visual art or photography) and contents focusing on interlinked issues of micro¯o politics, gender, race, culture, education, economy, globalisation, South/North.
