Our International Projects in 2015

DExZA - word art between Johannesburg and Berlin is a literary exchange project between two cities, exploring contemporary aesthetics in the fields of poetry, performative poetry and hip hop. It takes up the impulses of artists from Johannesburg who based on a long tradition cross and mix genres very naturally, producing interesting new creations in the process.

2015 - DExZA in Johannesburg

2 poets, 2 rappers and 1 musician from Germany will travel to Johannesburg where they will meet  2 poets, 2 rappers and 1 musician (their local counterparts). In workshops, these artists will have the opportunity to explore connecting factors. The aim - to translate, to make music and create across genres. The artists seek a counterpart whose lyrical works, performance or content they are interested in and transfer them into their own language and art form.

 South African poems turn into German rap lyrics and German spoken word poetry flows into South African poems or rap lyrics. Within the framework of events the audience in Johannesburg will not only have the opportunity to gain insights into the poetry, spoken word and music scenes from other cultures. Instead, the audiences will experience cultural transfers and cross-genre exchanges. In addition, a recording studio will be available in Johannesburg and all of the work will be documented photographically.

 

A project by No Boundaries e.V. and Word N Sound Festival. In cooperation with Literaturwerkstatt Berlin and the South African Embassy in Berlin. Sponsored by Heinrich Böll Stiftung. Financially supported by the German Foreign Office/German Embassy Pretoria, Goethe- Institut Johannesburg, Goethe-Institut Head Office Munich, Berliner Künstlerprogramm des DAAD.    

What happened in South Africa?

A Jozy Cipher/#DExZA

A short documentary

DExZA - Word Art between Johannesburg and Berlin is a literary exchange project between two cities, exploring contemporary aesthetics in the realms of poetry, performative poetry, and hip-hop. It draws inspiration from artists in Johannesburg who effortlessly cross and blend genres based on a long tradition, resulting in intriguing new creations. Two poets, two rappers, and one musician from Germany will travel to Johannesburg to meet their local counterparts in workshops aimed at exploring connecting factors. The goal is to translate, create music, and work across genres. Each artist will select a counterpart whose poetic works, performances, or content interest them and translate these into their own language and art form.

 

South African poems will be transformed into German rap lyrics, and German spoken word poetry will blend into South African poems or rap lyrics. During the events, the audience in Johannesburg will not only have the opportunity to gain insights into the poetry, spoken word, and music scenes of other cultures but also experience cultural transfers and interdisciplinary exchange. Additionally, a recording studio will be available in Johannesburg, and all works will be documented photographically.

 

A project by No Boundaries e.V. and the Word N Sound Festival. In collaboration with Literaturwerkstatt Berlin and the South African Embassy in Berlin. Supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Financially supported by the Federal Foreign Office/German Embassy Pretoria, Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, Goethe-Institut Central Munich, and the Berlin Artists Program of the DAAD.

 

DExZA Johannesburg, day one

First performance in Johannesburg

Day 2, workshop in Johannesburg

DExZA day three, getting work done in Soweto

Afurakan and Amewu, Soweto/#DExZA

Introducing Lwazilubanzi, Nomz, Simz

Introducing El Congo

Introducing Charl Pierre Naudé

Introducing Vuyelwa Maluleke

Introducing Dalibor

Performance/Johannesburg/#DExZA

#DExZA workshop impressions

A project by No Boundaries e.V. and the Word N Sound Festival. Sponsored by the Heinrich Böll Foundation. With financial support from the Federal Foreign Office/German Embassy Pretoria, the Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, the Goethe-Institut e.V. Central Munich, and the Berlin Artists Program of the DAAD. Supported by Literaturwerkstatt Berlin and the South African Embassy in Berlin.