Phayra Baloi and her team took a month and eleven days to put together the play “Nossos Cor(p)us”. One of the latest works in Mozambican theater, it was born from research into the killings in Cabo Delgado and other atrocities happening in the country.
It also stems from forgetfulness. Significant historical events are forgotten, and it’s well known that a nation without history cannot expect much from the future, as it doesn't know where to start. Among the forgotten events is the Wiriyamu massacre. “Will we forget Mieze? Or any other district in the north? So, in this context, I was interested in discussing war-induced migration and using theater to pay tribute to the soldiers we’ve forgotten, and some we don’t even know,” questions Phayra Baloi, the play’s director.
The intent of the play is clear, yet sometimes subjective. “Nossos Cor(p)us,” as mentioned earlier, questions the individual and collective narratives that each person carries. It explores the influence of matter on itself and how it shapes the stories many people tell and live.
The plot centers on Sunama, a woman of humble origin, daughter of parents from different regions, who faces a tragic fate. This character’s life is marked by marriage to a young man whose path is shaped by adventures in defense of the homeland, a journey that symbolizes the complexities and tragedies associated with his name.
“Sunama means sadness in Nyungue,” explained Phayra Baloi, who is also responsible for the lighting design, adding: “She is a character created by exploring the various languages spoken in the Tete province, and she’s brought in as the wife of a Machangana man who abandons her to go to war.”
The synopsis suggests that these "Corpus/bodies" are not just searching for a future, but also for an existential purpose, highlighting the dramatic and historical tensions that define the characters' journeys.
Thus, the performance challenges the audience to reflect on the role of the body in constructing identity and memory, while also revealing a constant dialogue between the past, present, and future possibilities.
The play features actors Lírico Poético, Aura Cossa, Orlas Intimane, Clayda Beque, Ramadane Matusse, and Solange Charles. Sumalgy Nuro and Gerson Mbalango are in charge of sound, Fernanda Muhambe handles choreography and costumes, Ildefonso Colaço photography, Molotov II and Ailton Zimila video, Lillian Benny voice-over, Nyles Cossa vocal direction, João Manuel visual design, and Lúcia Comé production.
(By Mozavibe)
