Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban
Born 1991 in Lomé, Togo
Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban received his first professional training in traditional Togolese dance from 2009 onwards at the dance company AMENOUVEVE. To further develop his artistry, he attended several courses in traditional and contemporary dance in Togo, Benin, and Ghana. In 2018, he moved to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to intensify his professional training. That same year, he was selected for the international contemporary dance training program YELEN DON #3 at the choreographic development center CDC La-Termitière. Koffi-Kégou has collaborated with many renowned choreographers, including Salia Sanou, Séydou Boro, Bienvenue Bazié, François Verret, Chantal Loïal, and Serge Aimé Coulibaly.

La Quatrième
La Quatrième explores polygamy—a deeply rooted reality in many African societies. Inspired by his own life story, Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban, who grew up in a polygamous family with five wives and twenty-three children, shares his deeply personal experience in an evocative solo performance. He embarks on a journey into his childhood, shaped by jealousy, rivalry, and resentment, and seeks to conquer his inner demons—a symbolic act for all children affected by this family structure. This intimate, introspective performance offers an unflinching look at the profound and lasting impact of polygamy on every individual involved.

Abdoul Aziz Zoundi
Born 1993 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Aziz Zoundi holds a diploma in contemporary dance from the Centre de Développement Chorégraphique (CDC La-Termitière) in Ouagadougou. He also trained in dance pedagogy at the École des Sables in Senegal and at CDC La-Termitière. Zoundi performed in When Birds Refused to Fly by the Baker and Tarpaga Dance Project, touring America and Europe from 2015 to 2019. In 2024, he was part of the cast of the revival of Pina Bausch's The Rite of Spring, produced by the Pina Bausch Foundation, Sadler's Wells, and École des Sables. The piece was performed worldwide. Alongside his dance career, Aziz Zoundi teaches dance to children and young adults in Burkina Faso and Benin.

Chute Perpétuelle
Chute Perpétuelle delves into the personal history of Abdoul Aziz Zoundi—specifically the painful loss of his aunt Aminata to cancer. In an introspective performance, Aziz confronts the struggles and suffering of his journey: the battle to make dance his profession, the confrontation with his deepest emotions, and the effort to remain authentic and steadfast despite societal prejudices in Burkina Faso against artists. Inspired by the unwavering support of his aunt, this Chute Perpétuelle becomes an act of healing, a search for hope amidst darkness.

Kadidja Tiemanta
Born 1991 in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast
Kadidja Tiemanta lives and works in Bamako, Mali. In 2017, she earned a master's degree in dance from the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers Multimédia Balla Fasséké KOUYATE. She furthered her training at École des Sables in Senegal, CDC La-Termitière in Burkina Faso, the Don Sen Folo Center in Bamako, and in Brazil at the Glomus Camp. Tiemanta has performed in Legacy by Nadia Beugré and Le Sacre du Printemps with Tanztheater Pina Bausch, with whom she toured worldwide. Her choreographic works include Différent comme toi with Yacouba Coulibaly, the duo performance Crossing, and the duo (IN)SECURE with Carmélita Siwa.

BANBALI (100 fin)
BANBALI (100 fin) explores resilience and helplessness in the face of illness—specifically, Kadidja Tiemanta's mother's battle with Parkinson's disease. Through physical dialogue and an emotional choreography, Tiemanta expresses fear, determination, and the power of self-overcoming. She takes the audience on a journey through the different phases of this struggle—from the search for hope to moments of despair to inner strength. Inspired by the movements of people with Parkinson's, the choreographer delves into existential questions, creating a delicate, therapeutic light within the pain.

Text edited by Peter Sampel
Africa Simply the Best is presented by International DANCE Festival München in cooperation with Münchner Kammerspiele.

Credits:

International Laboratory of Research and Creation in Performing Arts & Faso Danse Théâtre present Africa Simply The Best

Laureates of 2023:
Koffi-Kégou Afiadegnigban with “La Quatrième »
Aziz Zoundi with “Chute Perpétuelle”
Kadidja Tiemanta with “Banbali 100 fin”
Mentored by Serge Aimé Coulibaly

A production of International Laboratory of Research and Creation in Performing Arts and Faso Danse Théâtre in co-production with Münchner Kammerspiele.