A major feature of the tour will be the presentation of WATERSIDE on March 23 at 4 pm at the Cornerstone Theatre (COR 001) at Liverpool Hope University Creative Campus, 17 Shaw Street, Liverpool L6 1HP.
FOR six weeks, running February 13 and through the end of March, Lagos-based theatre makers, Kininso Koncepts will be on a six-week tour of various cities in the United Kingdom.
A statement from Ademola Joshua Alabi, leader of the delegation, disclosed that the troupe arrived in London on Wednesday, February 13, and for six weeks, will be “performing, facilitating workshops and engaging in several artistic projects in London, Luton, Manchester, Kent, Bury, Belfast, Liverpool and Bath.”
Alabi hinted further, “We will also be in Sheffield, Coventry and Birmingham at some point to meet with Directors and Execs of renowned UK cultural institutions, universities and funders.
“The highlight of this tour aside from the performances of Sandscape and Waterside would be the Kininso@King’s event as part of the King’s College African Leadership Centre’s event celebrating excellence and innovation in the arts through the lens of research, discussions and performances. We intend to dig deep into our work at Kininso and our process as an organisation blending arts and the business of creativity. A great honour indeed. “
A major feature of the tour will be the presentation of WATERSIDE on March 23 at 4 pm at the Cornerstone Theatre (COR 001) at Liverpool Hope University Creative Campus, 17 Shaw Street, Liverpool L6 1HP.
In the cast are: Stanley Okeke and Edgar Eriakha. The crew is made up of Joshua Alabi (Director); Blessing Okunlola & Angela Peters (Technical); Oluwaseyi Eniayo (Sound Design); Areoye Qoyyum (Production Manager), Aniefiok Inyang (Property Manager) and Rosemary Ayo dele (Designer). While Chinenye Chukwudi supervises Administration, Praise Alabi is for Legal.
For tickets: patrons are advised to check: https://capstone.hope.ac.uk/whatson/kininso-koncepts-presents-waterside.html.
On Waterside…
JOSHUA Alabi, the director of the play, gives the synopsis thus: “Based on the culture of totemism, taboos and family with a critical exploration into the themes of animism and ecology against the backdrop of oil exploitation in the Niger Delta in the 90’s.”
He continues: “My most challenging and most exciting work to date. WATERSIDE is an emotional journey full of laughter, magic and mystery. Previous audience members never stopped talking about it. Please share with friends in the UK. Tickets are selling fast.
The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of two main characters, exploring themes of memory, family, poverty, and childhood. However, at its core, Waterside centres around the profound concepts of taboos, totemism, animism, symbolism, and the interconnectedness between the spiritual realm and humanity.
Two friends, Osarume and Oghenovo, who grew up under the same roof as brothers, have killed a chicken which turns out to be the totem of Pa Barclays, a community elder. The man has died and his family will stop at nothing until the culprits die of the same fate as their father. Oghenovo’s Mother has gone to beg the priest and she is presented with the dilemma of having to pick one brother to live and the other to be killed.
WATERSIDE is an emotional, thought-provoking and magical journey that unravels the culture of totemism and taboos, plagues in the Niger Delta, and the significance of culture, family, memories, and dreams, delving into historical issues of oil exploitation and struggles of Nigerian youth, in particular unemployment.
Waterside serves as a poignant reminder of the power of memories and their lasting impact on our lives. It weaves together humour, wit, and thought-provoking moments, utilizing music, sound, and intense drama to evoke emotions of nostalgia, grief, and self-discovery. Waterside invites audiences to reflect on their own experiences and connections to the themes presented, fostering a sense of resonance and empathy.
A captivating theatre performance, the play delves into an intricate story of childhood, family and poverty in the oil-rich Niger Delta in Nigeria. Through the lens of totemism, animism, taboos, and African spiritualism, the production sheds light on the deep-rooted struggles faced by the region.
****
The Kininso team in London
On Kininso@King’s
A FEATURE on the website of King’s College London, gives a breakdown of Kininso@King’s as being slated for Strand Campus of the elite British school. It will kick off on March 4 from 1 pm through 8.30 pm.
Kininso Koncepts is a creative organisation and “an inclusive hub that utilises creativity, technology, stories, and design innovation to tell authentic African and contemporary stories, challenge the status quo, and shift perception.”
The announcement reads:
“This event will bring Lagos-based, socially engaged arts organisation Kininso Koncepts to King’s for an interactive creative workshop and a research-led panel discussion, as part of the African Leadership Centre’s Africa Week (3-7 March 2025).
Creative workshop: 1-4 pm, 4 March 2025, REACH Space: A Kininso team of performance-makers will mobilise their innovative methods of storytelling to deliver a workshop that invites participants to draw on lived experience to generate challenging artistic work that shifts perceptions through anti-racist and decolonial approaches.
Panel discussion: 6.30 – 8.30 pm, 4 March 2025, Bush House Lecture Theatre 3: A research-led panel discussion, followed by drinks, will be open to the public. It will include a reading of part of Kininso’s play Waterside, which explores themes of animism and ecology against the backdrop of oil exploitation in the Niger Delta, followed by a thematic discussion with King’s researchers Raidat Karim, Adelene Buckland and Clement Sefa-Nyarko, chaired by Annabel Ali. The panel brings together scholars from across the College with interests in creative practice, youth-led social movements, and eco-criticism.
On the team are: Stanley Okeke, Edgar Eriakha (Performance & Workshops); Joshua Alabi (CEO/Creative Director, and writer & director for Waterside); Angela Peters (Head of Operations/Producer); Blessing Okunlola (Technical/Media Lead); Areoye Qoyyum (Production Manager); Praise Alabi (Legal Officer); Chinenye Chukwudi (Administration Officer); Aniefiok Inyang (Creative Strategy/Property Manager); Rosemary Ayodele (Design Strategy/Art Direction); Simbiat Owolabi (Finance).
