Wanjiku Mwawuganga (KE)

#GlobalePerspektiven

In her autobiographical solo “Roots”, Kenyan actress, author and director Wanjiku Mwawuganga focuses on the themes of motherhood and trauma that are passed down through generations. She explores the relationships between mothers and daughters in her own family – from her grandmother, through her mother, herself to her own daughters – through stories, photographs and audio recordings. She creates an understanding of the complex connections within a family, which are also characterized by vulnerability and alienation. Her experiences with postnatal depression are also processed in the piece; vulnerability, discrimination and care work in connection with motherhood and childbirth are addressed.

Wanjiku Mwawuganga studied film and theatre at Kenyatta University in Nairobi and has worked in several short films and theatre productions, among others in collaboration with Ogutu Muraya. In 2015 she made her directorial debut with “We won’t forget”. “Roots” was created as part of the Maabara Initiative, which was founded in 2021 by Kenyan theatre professionals in collaboration with Zürcher Theater Spektakel

Join us for an artist talk in English after the performance.
Presentation: André Studt – Institut für Theater- und Medienwissenschaft, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg