Faustin Linyekula

Biography

Dancer and choreographer Faustin Linyekula lives and works in Kisangani (Democratic Republic of the Congo). After studying literature and drama in Kisangani, he moved to Nairobi and in 1997 set up the Gàara company with Opiyo Okach. In 2001 he created the “Studios Kabako” in Kinshasa. In 2007, the Studios Kabako resettled in Kisangani. Among his most recent creations are “Le Cargo” (2011), “La Création du Monde 1923-2012” (2012) and “Sur les traces de Dinozord” (2012). Linyekula has been invited to numerous festivals, including the Avignon Festival, ImPulsTanz Vienna and Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels and he is an associate artist at KVS Brussels. He teaches in Africa, Europe and the United States. In 2007, Linyekula was awarded the first prize of the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development. In 2014, the Studios Kabako received the grand prize of the American Curry Stone Foundation for the work they are developing in Kisangani. Linyekula was invited to Tanz im August where he showed his work “Drums and Digging” (2013) at HAU Hebbel am Ufer.