The arrival of colonisers radically transformed the continent of Africa: Christianity brought in a single male god and the people were forced to give up their wealth, ‘because poor will inherit the earth’. Traditional rhythms are used to relive the clash between those worlds.

After his first biographical solo Ndoto, Lukah Katangila developed the group piece Imprisoned Gods under the wings of Ultima Vez. In it, he focuses his gaze on faith and its associated culture. The current continent of Africa was called Alkebulan before the arrival of the colonisers and black peoples went by the name Weusi, with their own faith, strength, medicine and great knowledge of nature.

With the arrival of the colonisers, Christianity with their only male god also appeared on the scene. From the Christian motto that the rich would not go to heaven, the people were encouraged to give up all their wealth. Unlike traditional culture and religion, which is characterised by nuance and attention to differences, Christianity introduces an all-encompassing polarity: heaven versus hell, Christianity versus other religions, civilised versus primitive, white versus black, good versus evil.

In Imprisoned Gods, the tension between the two religious worlds, their current meaning and impact is questioned and denounced through contemporary dance. To the heartbeat of traditional rhythms and the trance of electronic mantras, we are drawn into a world of movement and images, where perspectives shift and dogmas disappear.