How do we build festivals that move beyond rigid, Eurocentric templates to mirror the living, breathing rhythms of the African continent? In an era marked by systemic hurdles, from infrastructure deficits and funding constraints to the frustrating realities of intra-continental border mobility, festival-making must become an act of creative resistance and radical hospitality.

Led by acclaimed dance producer, scholar, and curator, Thobi Maphanga, this immersive masterclass and conversational lab reframes the festival not merely as an administrative calendar but as a collective body in motion. Drawing on her extensive experience navigating both grassroots South African platforms like the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience and global curation networks, Maphanga invites independent producers, curators, cultural managers, and artists to explore a "somatic" approach to festival-making.

Together, participants will deconstruct traditional, elite performance spaces and brainstorm practical, cross-border strategies for collaborative touring, co-commissioning, and resource-sharing. This session is a vital incubation space for anyone looking to cultivate sustainable, human-centric creative ecosystems that actively amplify marginalised narratives, subvert institutional silos, and claim new physical and digital landscapes for African contemporary performance. Bring your ideas, your logistical knots, and your vision for a connected continent.

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About the Artists