FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 : 3rd EDITION OF DUOS FESTIVAL “SOCIAL ECOLOGY” IN KILIFI & MOMBASA
The third edition of TPAAE’s DUOS Festival will be held in Mombasa and Kilifi from March 1-4, 2023. Kenyan and Polish artists will again test the possibilities of artistic cooperation in a transcultural perspective. This time they will focus on the principles of Social Ecology. These DUOS will lead teams of interns from Pwani University and the Technical University of Mombasa in artmaking workshops, with presentation sites set for Kilifi and Nyali. A satellite event, the LAMPART Short Film Festival, will award films made by university students and Coastal filmmakers.
Social Ecology is a socio-political philosophy that sees the economic imbalances arising from various forms of hierarchy and domination as the root cause of the world’s impending environmental crisis brought on by global warming. Developed by American political philosopher Murray Bookchin, Social Ecology proposes a model of society adapted to human development and the biosphere through which this crisis might be addressed. It is a theory of radical political ecology based on confederations of self-governing municipalities, which stands counter to the current, capitalist system of top-down production and mass consumption. It seeks to create a unified society that is moral, decentralized and guided by reason. This type of socio-political organization today is practiced only in the Rojava autonomous region in northern Syria, making it the sole place in the world with this form of direct democracy.
Working as DUOS in these broader collaborative ensembles, the artists will carry out projects in their various fields with the help of students and local practitioners (artisans, musicians, dancers). These three-week collaborations are curated by Lukasz Jastrubczak in collaboration with Izabela Plucinska, instructors from the Academy of Art in Szczecin (Poland), which is a participating institution in TPAAE. The outcomes will be presented at the Alliance Francaise in Mombasa (Nyali), and in the Kilifi town center. The festival is open to the local community. The joint projects will then travel to Szczecin, where they will be presented at the National Museum in Szczecin in June 2023. The festival features an allied Kids Session, in which pupils from area elementary schools engage in projects with visiting researcher from University of Macerata, Rosita Deluigi.
The LAMPART Short Film Festival offers student filmmakers and coastal producers the opportunity to present their films in three categories: DOCUMENTARY, FICTION, and a NO LIMIT category for experimental work. The festival, directed by Izabela Plucinska, takes its name from the Polish word for leopard. Films submitted through an open call will be screened in Mombasa (Alliance Francaise) and Kilifi. The Jury – combined of TPAAE Board of Art and Alliance Francaise representative will award prizes in each category (KES40,000) in a ceremony set for March 4 in Kilifi.
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi is the DUOS Festival Honorary Patron.
DUOS artists:
JOSEPH ALLAN GREEN & RAFAŁ ŻARSKI
art in public space
YONA MUDIBO & NATALIA KARCZEWSKA
installation / sculpture
PHILIP TANGARA (PET THE POET) & ZORKA WOLLNY
music / performance
CAROLINE NGOROBI & JUSTYNA CELEDA
community theatre
MIKE OKOTH & ANNA MARIA KARCZMARSKA
scenography
MBINGA & MIKOŁAJ MAŁEK
scenography & photography
TOMMIE OMINDE & IGOR OMULECKI
photography
RUBY WANJIRU KANG’ETHE & MAGDALENA SZYMKÓW
film
RAFAŁ KRZANOWSKI
percussion music
ROSITA DELUIGI (University of Macerata)
Kids Session
Curated by Łukasz Jastrubczak in collaboration with Izabela Plucińska
12 of NOVEMBER 2021 > 16 JANUARY 2022
“Community” and “Women Power” exhibitions in National Museum in Szczecin.
Artists: Zippy Kimundu & Małgorzata Mazur, Castro Osore & Anna Orlikowska, Wacu Kihara & Emilia Łapko, Mohamed Mbwana Omar & Piotr Pauk, Biko Wesa & Witek Orski, Simba Wanga & Anna Nowicka, Richard Onyango & Zbigniew Rogalski; Mramba Mweni, Said Chengo & Łukasz Jastrubczak, Said Luganje Kahindi, Christian Niccoli
Curators: Marlena Chybowska-Butler, Łukasz Jastrubczak, Zorka Wollny
Cooperation: Ewa Prądzyńska
Photographs : Robert Stachnik, Michał Wojtarowicz
4th of SEPTEMBER
SECOND DAY OF DUOS FESTIVAL in photos of Yuda Oriema.
3rd of SEPTEMBER
FIRST DAY OF DUOS FESTIVAL in photos of Yuda Oriema.
1st of SEPTEMBER
MULTIMEDIA DUO (Linda Shuma & Natalia Szostak) working on their piece. Photos by Yuda Oriema
ANIMATION DUO (Sheila Okanga & Iza Plucińska) conducts workshops for Kids. photos by Yuda Oriema
KIDS SESSION team encourage kids to create their own masks made of natural materials.
TEAM: Said Luganje (Gendo Arts), Elina Kancara, Joshua Mwendwa (Josh Leeman), Mohamed Mbwana Omar, Said Chengo, Rosita Deluigi
from the initiative of Zuzanna Wollny
28th AUGUST
The official reception of Duos Festival with all the partners of TPAAE.
25th AUGUST
CERAMICS : Fauzia Aly Khan & Anna Molska (photos by Yuda Oriema
24th AUGUST
Festival’s photo journal by Yuda Oriema : meeting of MUSIC / POETRY:
Shangazi Masika & Alicja Pilarczyk duo
and
realization of the relief at Seahorse Dockers School :
History and legend of Mekatilili Wa Menza was an inspiration for illustration which is made in sgraffito ancient technique.
TEAM: Said Luganje (Gendo Arts), Elina Kancara, Joshua Mwendwa (Josh Leeman), Mohamed Mbwana Omar, Said Chengo
from the initiative of Zuzanna Wollny
23rd AUGUST
Festival’s photo journal by Yuda Oriema
22nd AUGUST
Screening of Polish Animations at Tribe Bandas (photos by Tommie Ominde)
21st AUGUST
Multimedia (Linda Shuma & Natalia Szostak) / meeting with students at Kesho Kenya in Kilifi
Installation (Shaila Resia Agha & Aneta Grzeszykowska) / making of the Mekatilili Wa Menza sculpture at the car workshop in Kilifi
18th AUGUST
Concert of Alicja Pilarczyk on a boat
Music & Poetry (Shangazi Masika & Alicja Pilarczyk) / meeting with traditional dance ensemble and students from Pwani University
16th AUGUST
Auditions for Pwani University students to participate in workshop groups of the DUOS.
11th AUGUST
Visit in the Malindi District Cultural Association dedicated to Mekatilili Wa Menza, our patroness.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/coast/2021-08-17-mekatilili-menzas-relatives-feted-at-festival-to-honour-hero/
11th AUGUST
Initial meeting of the artists of 2nd edition of DUOS Festival in Tribe Bandas.
25th – 27th of MARCH
DUOS Final projects : Final performance of DANCE DUO (Simba Wanga + Anna Nowicka) at Giriama Paradise (Chengo Mganga Football grounds) + performance of ZAIRE NGOME MSAGA PORE traditional band, about which the FILM DUO (Zippy Kimundu + Małgorzata Mazur) made a documentary film.
DUOS Final projects : STREET ART DUO (Piotr Pauk + Mohamed Mbwena Omar)
Mural at Mnarani Primary
DUOS Final projects : Final exhibition at Seahorse Art Centre by CONTEXTUAL ART DUO (Said Chengo & Mramba Mweni + Łukasz Jastrubczak) and PAINTING/SCULPTURE DUO (Anna Orlikowska + Castro Osore) with additional work from INSTALLATION DUO (Richard Onyango + Zbigniew Rogalski).
“Munda”
illusory mural painted by Castro Osore in collaboration with Łukasz Jastrubczak. Painting represents the landscape that is behind the Pwani University Wall.
“Models of the Future School” and various objects sculpted with clay and recycled materials
by Seahorse Dockers School pupils
“Map of Seahorse Village”
mural painted by Seahorse Dockers School pupils
DUOS Final projects : Exhibition at Giriama Paradise of PHOTOGRAPHY DUO : Biko Wesa + Witek Orski
“Mnazi”
DUOS Final projects : Exhibition at Pwani University of INSTALLATION DUO : Richard Onyango + Zbigniew Rogalski
“Love & Death”
paintings, artificial human bones made of recycled foam and glue
DUOS Final projects : Fashion Happening in the public space of Kilifi by FASHION DESIGN DUO : Wacu Kihara + Emilia Łapko
DUOS Final projects : Openg Stage for Kilifi young aritsts curated by Pwani University Students at TRIBE BANDAS
24th of MARCH
Starting tomorrow, you can visit all locations and see the DUOS projects. Here is a detailed map of DUOS locations :

20th of MARCH
White Kids Conceptual DUO dug out charcoal from the ground and sold it today for 5 KES (Kenyan Shillings) per 1 unit.

18th of MARCH
Posters finally arrived! Designed by Post-Noviki (photos by Emilia Łapko)
18th of MARCH
FASHION DESIGN DUO (Wacu Kihara + Emilia Łapko) realizes another fashion photo session in Kilifi. (photos by Yuda Oriema)
18th of MARCH
INSTALLATION DUO (Richard Onyango + Zbigniew Rogalski) with assistance of Pwani University students are realizing an installation that combines painted narration and sculpted objects. (photos by Yuda Oriema)
17th of MARCH
At Seahorse Art Centre CONTEXTUAL ART DUO (Łukasz Jastrubczak + Said Chengo & Mramba Mweni) and Kids from Seahorse Dockers Primary are painting the map of Seahorse Village on the perimeter of the school. In the same location Castro Osore from PAINTING/SCULPTURE DUO realizes a trompe l’oeil wall painting. (photos by Yuda Oriema)
16th of MARCH
FILM DUO (Małgorzata Mazur + Zippy Kimundu) are working on a Documentary Film about Fumbini village local band “Zaire Ngome Msaga Pore”, which will be shown at a final event on the 27th of March
15th of MARCH
Children at Seahorse School create models of the futurist school facilities. SEAHORSE ART CENTRE (Said Chengo & Mramba Mweni + Anna Orlikowska + Castro Osore + Łukasz Jastrubczak)
(photos by Anna Orlikowska)
15th of MARCH
DUOS’ work progress : INSTALLATION DUO (Richard Onyango + Zbigniew Rogalski) works at Pwani University, STREET ART DUO (Mohamed Mbwena Omar + Piotr Pauk) paint part of the front perimeter of Mnarani Primary, PERFORMANCE DUO (Simba Wanga + Anna Nowicka) dance at Chengo Mganga Football Field in Seahorse Village. (photos by Michał Kulik)
13th of MARCH
Workshops at Mnarani Primary School of Street Art DUO (Mohamed Mbwena Omar + Piotr Pauk)
12th of MARCH
Workshops at Seahorse Art Centre. Kids create sculptures for a model of their future school.
12th of MARCH
Backstage photos from Fashion Design DUO (Mila Łapko + Wacu Kihara)
11th of March
DUOS working on their projects. Zorka Wollny met with the students involved with organizational tasks. Anna Nowicka + Simba Wanga continue to work on a new performance.
Workshops at Seahorse Art Centre (Łukasz Jastrubczak + Said Chengo & Mramba Mweni / Anna Orlikowska + Castro Osore) in which kids created a map of Seahorse Village.
(photo by Michał Kulik)
9th of MARCH
We conducted the audition for students from Pwani University to select them for participation in the DUOS festival. All DUOS were looking for young talents in the field of painting, photography, film, sculpture, street art, fashion design, performance, and contextual art.
(photo by Michal Kulik)
6th of MARCH
First meeting of DUOS artists (photo by Michal Kulik)