History of My Craft
At the beginning of my life there was the inspiration of an arts movement that was brought to one of the most marginalised and dangerous places in the sprawling outskirts of Maputo, Mozambique and which has became an epicentre of hope for youth and the community. I am proud to have been at the core of this experience, for this is where I learnt to stand up and speak for the things that matter most.
I grew up in Maxaquene “A”, a township rife with high levels of crime, domestic violence, sexual abuse, youth pregnancy, drugs, high rates of HIV, orphans, no access to schools, poverty and vulnerability.
In 2005 Associacao Socio Cultural Horizonte Azul (ASCHA), a culture concern, was founded in my area under the direction of Dalila Macuacua. This is where I discovered the arts. The idea was to promote music, dance and theatre to foster safe spaces and positive activities for the youth of our township. Dalila Macuacua was an actress who led us in theatre and poetry productions and brought Vintani Nafassi, a choreographer and dancer from the National Music and Dance Company to teach us. All too soon, however, he had to leave for overseas and we seemed to be left stranded.
Enter Valentin Ferrois! He was a reformed gang member and ex-prisoner who, during his time in jail, had started dancing. Him with very little knowledge of socialisation but a big wish for change, became our instructor. The fire had been kindled inside us and without minimal resources we carried on. Come sun, wind or rain, we were always there – to play, to dance, to act, from Monday to Sunday and back again.
In a short period ASCHA became a recognized organization, known for its strong, young and talented cast, who took part in big festivals, competitions and various performances. Collaborating with governmental and private sectors we managed to get food support for the most vulnerable families in our community, build toilets and sanitation in our area, gain free access to school for many youth and adults and play an instrumental role in the organization of workshops for the community on HIV, sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Without noticing when, traditional Mozambican dance and music had become my heartbeat. When the rest of my family avoided any kind of contact because of what I was doing, artists became my family and discovering and sharing in the arts the most happy moments of my growth.
In 2010 I joined the Nucleo de Jovens Criadores (NJC) , at first as part of its performing cast, but very shortly also to teach school kids during weekend school activities. In these experience I discovered that I had a passion for teaching and that the transmission of the arts is a responsibility. ASCHA had a saying: “Onde ha um direito, existe um dever por comprir.” – where there is a right there is a duty to fulfill. This became my slogan.
In 2012, Nytto Chongo who saw my talent and dedication while teaching at NJC, invited me to teach traditional dance and percussion at the International French School of Maputo, and later in 2013 also introduced me to the Matola Music and Dance Company.
With that came the opportunity to participate in a two-year pedagogical dance course at the Universidade Pedagógica conducted in collaboration with the MoNo Cultural Association. My horizons were expanding and I was learning new things. I was introduced to new dance styles - classical ballet, jazz, hip hop, house, contemporary - and the world of the mind, through courses in cultural anthropology and pedagogics. I got the incredible chance to spend half a year as an exchange student in Norway, where I worked at Kulturskolen I Fredrikstad, training as well and teaching, choreographing and gaining valuable experience in leadership in various productions.
Back in Maputo, MoNo hired me as their contemporary dance teacher and later as program coordinator for international exchange students in Mozambique.
Associated with my ambitions to always see change and growth, I then started a solo carrer, where for three years I then travelled back and forward and offered music and dance workshop overseas in different cultural centers and schools. While in Mozambique I always spent time empowering, learning and sharing skills with various artists. I got to learn in a myriad forms that supporting one another is the way we discover how to thrive.
In 2017, with support of the project Architects without borders, I initiated the establishment of a music and dance academy in a community centre in one of the townships in Maputo.
In 2018 I moved to Cape Town, for my passion for music was starting to bite more keenly and I wished to deepen my experience in this direction by joining the postgraduate program in African Music at the University of Cape Town. To become part of this postgraduate program through an RPL and bursary application was a victory hard won and much cherished. Cape Town has been an experiment in possibilities - I have found friends, chances to enrich my music and dance knowledge and, here too, have become part of many outreach and community upliftment programs.
Community organizations and passionately driven young people struggling to realize their dreams were are and will always be my mission. My big dream is to accomplish an Art Centre where youth education in arts will be the main focus, together with a space for "marginal" artists of all ages to feel appreciated for their work as they part become part of global productions that bring together artists from different cultures, backgrounds and disciplines. Gradually as I go along I set aside resources to accomplish this dream…I have already bought a small piece of land in Mozambique and last year built the foundation (literally) for a future studio…
I am on a journey of artistic discovery. Along the way I wish to share my growing understanding with artists in all musical, movement, theatre and production disciplines and with all who, in the arts, see a road to the heart.
