*German literature scholar to hold lecture on Eritrean theatre culture
during the War of Independence.*
Surviving (with) Theatre: A Brief History of Cultural Troupes in the
Eritrean War of Independence (ELF and EPLF)
http://www.soas.ac.uk/africa/events/21feb2014-surviving-with-theatre-a-brief-history-of-cultural-troupes-in-the-eritrean-war-of-independ.html
Surviving (with) Theatre: A Brief History of Cultural Troupes in the
Eritrean War of Independence (ELF and EPLF)
Dr Christine Matzke (University of Bayreuth)
*Date:* 21 February 2014*Time:* 1:30 PM
*Finishes:* 21 February 2014*Time:* 3:00 PM
*Venue:* Brunei Gallery*Room:* B111
*Type of Event:* Lecture
Abstract
During the Eritrean war of independence against Ethiopia (1961-1991),
culture played a prominent role as a means of creative self-definition, but
also as a medium of entertainment, education and socio-political control.
In this lecture, I will trace the history of performance culture in both
liberation movements - the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and the Eritrean
People's Liberation Front (EPLF) - starting with the much-neglected
cultural troupes of the ELF, and continuing with selected aspects of EPLF
performance culture, largely after the Strategic Retreat in 1978.
While I will enquire into the 'functions' of performance in relation to
mechanisms for survival, I will also examine the dangers coming from
theatre practice itself. These include actors being shot on stage by fans
or attacked off stage by outraged spectators; audience members fainting or
fleeing after taking performances 'for real'; or the hazard coming from
substances artists had to work with for lack of appropriate materials.
Survival (with) theatre also included the necessity to instantly switch
from costume making to sewing gas masks. Life was immensely hazardous in
the liberation war and did not allow for a sharp distinction between
culture, creativity and combat.
Biography
Dr. Matzke joined the University of Bayreuth in spring 2011. She taught
literature and theatre in the Department of New Literatures in English at
Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main (2001-2003) and the African Studies
Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (2003-2010). She studied at
Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main and Queen Mary and Westfield College,
University of London, and holds degrees from the University of Leeds. She
is a member of the editorial board of Matatu: Journal for African
Literature and Culture (www.rodopi.nl). Together with Anja Oed, she
co-convened the 9th Janheinz-Jahn Symposium, '"Beyond 'Murder by Magic":
Investigating African Crime Fiction', at Johannes Gutenberg Universität
Mainz in 2008. She has researched and published extensively on Eritrean
theatre. Her research and teaching interests include African theatre and
performing arts (with a focus on the Horn of Africa, particularly Eritrea),
British Drama since 1890, Anglophone African literature, popular literature
(esp. crime fiction), women's writing, concepts of diaspora, and
historiography.
*Contact email:* sm137_at_soas.ac.uk
Received on Tue Feb 18 2014 - 20:55:22 EST