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Mama Kimpa Vita
A prophet and spiritual leader, Kimpa Vita was born circa 1684 near Mount Kibangu in the Ancient Kongo Kingdom. Endowed with a great gift for prophecy; her once celebrated gift was later deemed heresy, when her message began to pose a threat to colonial powers. At 22, Kimpa Vita was brutally burned at the stake with her infant child. Despite her life's short and tragic end, her spiritual teachings and influence remain today.
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This work cannot happen without your support. Thank You
for your generous contribution!
To mail in your donation, please send to:
Kimpa Vita!
c/o Muisi-kongo Malonga
P.O. Box 421
San Leandro, CA 94577
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Kimpa Vita!
A Solo ChoreOpera by Muisi-kongo S. Malonga
An Effort to Secure Matching Funds from the East Bay Fund for Artists
Dear Friends,
I am truly excited, because I am at the start of a new creative journey, for which I believe my whole life and the sum of my artistic experiences have prepared me. On this path, I find my mother's music, steeped in the traditions of the African American church, my father's rhythms rooted in the heart of the Kongo and my words, my dance and my song colliding in the creation of "Kimpa Vita!" a powerful solo choreOpera depicting the tumultuous tale of the 17th century Kongolese prophet and (female) martyr.
Before being led to this story, I could scarce imagine creating a work rooted in the soil of the two legacies from which I have sprung, or the chance to creatively confront topics such as religion, politics, colonialism and the perplexing question of the feminine and the divine. However, through "Kimpa Vita!," my first solo work, a great opportunity has been bestowed upon me.
In support of this creation, I have been awarded a $6,500 1:1 matching grant by the East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF). However, for those funds to be released, I need your help. I am calling upon you -- my friends, family and community-- to help me raise $6,500 by the December 31, 2012 deadline. One of the goals of EBCF's East Bay Fund for Artists is to help local artists deepen and expand their individual donor base, as such, grantees are required to raise an amount equal to their grant award by the deadline or risk losing funds altogether. Will you help me realize this vision by making a tax-deductible donation today?
The options for making a donation are 1) Make a secure payment online via paypal or 2) Send your contribution in by mail. The link and mailing address for donations are located on the left-hand column of this message. No contribution is too small, and every dollar is appreciated, for each brings me a step closer to my goal.
Kimpa Vita!, a choreOpera featuring an innovative blend of music, dance, poetry and theater stemming from African American and Congolese cultural arts traditions, will premiere in San Francisco at CounterPulse's Performing Diaspora Festival in August 2013, and will make its East Bay debut in December 2013. I invite you to accompany me on this epic journey into a past that is still quite present, by making a tax-deductible contribution to support the creation of this work. Your contribution will support research, travel, artistic consultancies/collaborations and technical support necessary to bringing this story -- this vision-- to life. I feel personally called to tell Mama Kimpa Vita's story, and to channel her spirit through music, dance and word, for hers is a story that needs to be told. I hope I can count on your support.
Sincerely,
Muisi-kongo Malonga
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Muisi-kongo Malonga, 2013 East Bay Fund for Artists Grantee
Photo Credits (L-R): Bethanie Hines, Robin Agarwal, Kimara Dixon, Robin Agarwal, Kwesi Osafo
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