Kigali, March 27

Yesterday went by with problems of making a real big African bungalow fit into the normal housing conditions for 9 Cambodians. Landlady had left an extremely dirty  house on the minute we arrived with a van full of exhausted people. No gas, no pots, no knife, nothing to cook with, in or on  – while the main reason to rent a house had been to make sure the  Cambodians could cook their own food.  Our friends turned out to be real magicians: an electric rice cooker popped up, big bags of rice, noodles, condiments and sauces, all brought from home – the stores were filled within a few minutes – after they had been cleaned. It saved them, till this morning electricity fell out, only to be followed by a water cut. We are in Africa.

Today we started with a wonderful welcome meeting. The full staff of La Benevolencija and the two Rwandese actors came to the Cambodian house and for two hours they  informed each other on the different aspects of their ‘own’ genocides. It was a moving and warm, respectful meeting.  In the afternoon: the moment we had all nervously looked forward to,  the first common rehearsal. Annemarie started with a canon and a song –and it was immediately clear that rhythm and sound would play a very important role in this new version of Breaking the Silence. The two languages go well together, the voices are beautiful and making music together – even in spoken word – goes easy.

NvH                       
                            Pictures below:
                           1) At the setbuiders
                           2) Handmade flower hairpieces made by Sakonna for Annemarie & Nan
                           3) First meeting and talks in the "Cambodian" house
                           4) Group picture