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- Herausgeber: WS
- Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
- Sprache: Englisch
A dual language edition in English and French.
The genocide in Rwanda shocked the world. Back then, Ery Nzaramba was only a teenager and his family’s escape to Europe turned him into a “survivor”. How should he now respond to questions about who he is and where he comes from?
In this autobiographical one-man play, performed to acclaim on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the author journeys back to his Rwandan childhood. With the help of a cassette player, he brings to life nearly a dozen characters, exploring memories of kinship, cultural attitudes and personal identity. Both funny and poignant, the play highlights not only the intolerance that can breed violence and war but also the importance of power and privilege in the struggle for survival.
Le génocide au Rwanda a choqué le monde. À l'époque, Ery Nzaramba était un adolescent. Après que sa famille se fut échappé en Europe, il est devenu un «survivant». Désormais, que doit-il répondre à des questions sur qui il est et d'où il vient?
Dans ce one-man show autobiographique, salué par la critique lors de sa présentation au Festival d'Édimbourg, l'auteur retourne vers son enfance au Rwanda. Accompagné d'un lecteur cassette, il donne vie à une bonne douzaine de personnages, explorant souvenirs de famille et d'affinités, attitudes culturelles et identité. À la fois poignante et pleine d'humour, la pièce met en lumière non seulement l'intolérance qui peut engendrer violence et guerre, mais aussi l'importance du privilège dans la lutte pour la survie.
ERY NZARAMBA
Ery Nzaramba left Rwanda to settle in Belgium in 1994. Ten years later he moved to the UK for an acting career. In 2014 Ery started working with director Peter Brook and long-time collaborator Marie-Hélène Estienne, featuring in world tours of Battlefield and The Suit. Ery has been awarded two Grants for the Arts by Arts Council England and an Arvon Grant for his writing. He has written and directed short films; Split/Mixed is his first piece written for theatre. He wrote the first draft in 2013 and was invited to perform it in New York, Berlin, and Belfast. The play continued to be developed and its current version premiered to critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016.
"Every time someone asks where I’m from, it’s a reminder of how lucky and privileged I’ve been. In 1994 Rwanda was in the news for all the wrong reasons. It was being torn apart by a civil war and a genocide. Unlike millions of others who couldn’t, my family escaped. Because we could. And we got all the support in the world because we were "refugees". But were we, really? Would I be able to look in the eye of one of the other millions of Rwandans who couldn’t leave the country and say "I’m a refugee"? I've lived in Europe for nearly a quarter of a century now, and though I’m no longer a refugee, that question has continued to haunt me. So I decided to write Split/Mixed."
Praise for his work:
"Hilarious, harrowing and acutely moving…[An] essential, coruscating work" −**** The Stage
"An extraordinary one-man play (...) Split/Mixed is deeply moving, even harrowing at times. But it is also extremely funny… −www.wordswithjam.co.uk
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Seitenzahl: 64
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017
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Ery Nzaramba
Ery Nzaramba left Rwanda to settle in Belgium in 1994. Ten years later he moved to the UK for an acting career.
In 2014 Ery started working with director Peter Brook and long-time collaborator Marie-Hélène Estienne, featuring in world tours of Battlefield and The Suit.
Ery has been awarded two Grants for the Arts by Arts Council England and an Arvon Grant for his writing. He has written and directed short films; Split/Mixed is his first piece written for theatre. He wrote the first draft in 2013 and was invited to perform it in New York, Berlin and Belfast. The play continued to be developed and its current version premiered to critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016.
‘Every time someone asks where I’m from, it’s a reminder of how lucky and privileged I’ve been. In 1994 Rwanda was in the news for all the wrong reasons. It was being torn apart by a civil war and a genocide. Unlike millions of others who couldn’t, my family escaped. Because we could. And we got all the support in the world because we were ‘refugees’. But were we, really? Would I be able to look in the eye of one of the other millions of Rwandans who couldn’t leave, and say “I’m a refugee”? I’ve lived in Europe for nearly a quarter of a century now, and though I’m no longer a refugee, that question has continued to haunt me. So, I decided to write Split/Mixed.’ – Ery Nzaramba
First published in the UK in 2017 by Aurora Metro Publications Ltd.
67 Grove Avenue, Twickenham, TW1 4HX
Split/Mixed copyright © 2017 Ery Nzaramba
Cover photo and design copyright © Greg McKinney
Production: Simon Smith
With many thanks to: Marina Tuffier, Peter Fullagar, Abi Silverthorne and Anthony Crick.
All rights are strictly reserved.
For rights enquiries including performing rights, contact the publisher: [email protected]
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Printed in the UK by 4edge Limited.
Ebook conversion by Swift ProSys.
ISBNs:
978-1-911501-97-8 (print)
978-1-911501-98-5 (ebook)
SPLIT/MIXED
A thought-provoking quest to find a singular voice
ERY NZARAMBA
Maliza Productions
Maliza Productions was founded by Ery Nzaramba. ‘Kuliza’ means ‘to make cry’ in Kinyarwanda… so beautiful it makes you cry. Beauty, emotions, the clash of times and cultures… these are some of the qualities that Maliza productions for stage and screen aspire to explore.
Maliza Productions a été fondée par Ery Nzaramba. ‘Kuliza’ veut dire ‘faire pleurer’ en Kinyarwanda… tellement beaux qu’on en pleure. Beauté, émotions, choc des temps et cultures… voici quelques-unes des qualités que les productions de Maliza aspirent à explorer.
CONTENTS
SPLIT/MIXED
SPLIT/MIXED en francais
For my little sister Jenny-Loïs, my mum Marie-Thérèse, my dad Phocas
For my little sister Maya
For Janika, Akira, Themba
For the Kinet family
SPLIT/MIXED
Split/Mixed has its Asian premiere at the Hong Kong World Cultures Festival in November 2017.
Directed by Jude Christian.
Sound design by Helen Skiera.
Lighting design by Katie Pitt.
PROLOGUE
Today, in a theatre.
Eddy walks on stage with a twin-deck cassette player from the 80s. He chooses a spot on stage and puts the player down, then greets the audience.
Hello. My name is Eddy Hamuleti. Thank you all for coming to my show. The play you’re about to see is the story of a man from Rwanda living in the Diaspora. One day, he goes to a club in East London and meets a girl. They chat… they dance…
He presses PLAY on the ghetto blaster and a club song starts playing…
HERE AND NOW
A night club. Eddy impresses Chloe with his moves.
Wow! That’s amazing! You’re such a good dancer…!
Thanks!
So where are you from?
Wapping. How about you?
Dalston.
O, we’re practically neighbours…! Taking the bus tonight?
Maybe… (A silent, awkward, shy, dance for a bit. Then–) So, where are you from originally?
Oh, Rwanda.
Uganda?
Ru-an-da.
Oh, Rwanda. Where’s Rwanda?
In Africa.
I know it’s in Africa. I meant, where in Africa?
Oh… At the heart of Africa, right below the equator.
Your English is pretty good.
Thank you.
SURVIVOR’S DILEMMA
Perfect time to move on to another subject, Eddy…
No, tell her more…
So when did you leave Rwanda then?
Lie!
Tell her!
In 1994.
Chloe thinks for a moment, then:
Hang on, wasn’t there…?
Yes.
Were you there?
LIE!!
TELL HER!!
Yes. I was there.
My reflection
A complexion
Plagiarised
In her eyes.
Hero
Zero
Freak
Bleak
Victim
Invictum.
The old image muddies
New colour new flavour
It is no longer Eddy’s
It’s of a genocide survivor.
HERO OR ZERO
Cool. You’re special. Unique. The survivor. You’ve seen shit. You are Othello to her Desdemona. A hero in a war film.
Eddy, don’t listen to Vanity. You’re not a hero! You’re not a genocide survivor!
Vanity stops the tape.
He is a genocide survivor! And he’s allowed to pull girls with his story! Like Othello!
He has no right to do so, he’s a fake!
He escaped!
He’s a counterfeit!
He lost people through the genocide!
He’s a phoney!
He was a war refugee!
A bogus!
He could have been killed!!
How can you feel sorry for him?! Must I remind you of his upbringing? (Brandishes a tape) My memory is intact!
Conscience goes to the cassette player, removes Eddy’s tape, inserts his own and plays:
Once upon a time, in the 80s to be precise, in a country far far away… Rwanda, to be precise, an aeroplane hailing from Belgium lands on the tarmac of Rwanda national airport… And out steps a young boy called Eddy, his younger sister called Gabby, and their mother called… er… Mum.
RWANDA, THE MOTHERLAND
Gabby, give me your hand… Eddy, you too…
Very loud.
Very hot.
Smells funny.
A foreign country.
My country?
Eddy!!
Dad!
He crosses the runway without harm
Picks Gabby and I in his arms.
Kisses Mum on the lips.
Kisses us on the cheeks.
You sting!
Kisses Gabby once more.
Aaah!
Gabby…! Do I sting that much?!
A fly!!
Ah… Of course. You’ll have to get used to them Gabby. This isn’t Belgium.
Dad, why did you have to leave last week?
I had to come and prepare our new home Eddy. Do you two know where we are?
No.
This is Rwanda. Where Mummy and Daddy were born.
Home.
And this is where Lil’ Jenny is born (Holds a baby in his arms) She’s God’s grace–
Don’t look so scared, she’s just a baby!
The gap from Gabby is six years.
Primary school!
Conscience interrupts and fast-forwards the tape.
Boring…
Hey! That’s the bit where he gets the caning of his life, that’s important!
