(São Paulo) – Kizomba Design Museum, a transitory platform dedicated to preserving the history of Kizomba culture across the African Portuguese-speaking countries (PALOP) and its vast diaspora, presents a three-day immersive experience in São Paulo during Brazil’s 35th Art Biennale.
Founded by writer and music producer Kalaf Epalanga, and Creative Director and multidisciplinary artist Nástio Mosquito, the Kizomba Design Museum fosters public dialogue and simultaneously draws global attention to the influence that Kizomba exerts on the dignity of its communities worldwide. Through live music, food, and performances, the activation explores the trans-cultural relationship between the rich history of the music genre that originated in Angola and the social, economic, and political impact it had within the diasporas in Portuguese-speaking public and private spheres. The events in S. Paulo take place in various locations, including Casa de Francisca, Pivô Gallery, and Megafauna bookshop at the heart of the city, from 6 through 8 September 2023. It will also exist online at KIZOMBADESIGNMUSEUM.com.
Musical performances by some of the most prominent artists in Kizomba, including Paulo Flores, Djodje, Dino d’Santiago, Dj João Reis, Branko, Indi Mateta, Batida, to mention a few, will be held throughout the three-day event, as well as dance workshops by Coletivo Kizomba Yetu. Talks with scholars and historians, including Professor Marissa J. Moorman and writer and publisher Ondjaki, will situate the music’s importance against wider political and cultural contexts, whilst a culinary experience inspired by PALOP cuisine from Bel Coelho will also be on offer. Additionally, The Mercado (shop) will feature Kizomba-inspired memorabilia and fashion curated by designer and style savant Armando Cabral.
Moving beyond the simple representation of the format and embracing the meaning of the word KIZOMBA, meaning “party” or “celebration” in Kimbundu, a Bantu language of northern Angola, the Kizomba Design Museum S. Paulo projects represent the initial phase in a strategy to create a tangible, institutional hub for the movement. Delving into broader concepts of what it means to be a museum and the importance of memorializing more ephemeral or frequently neglected aspects of global culture, the Kizomba Design Museum acknowledges and validates the importance of Kizomba as an economic, social, and cultural phenomenon.
