ÉKSTASI Transcultural Storytelling in Digital Times. Immersive Opera - Mombasa, Nairobi - Trailer

Ékstasi-Transcultural Storytelling Across Space, Time and Media is a musical and poetic project designed in the context of the Horizon Europe Project CAPHE-Communities and Artistic Participation in Hybrid Environment to explore and celebrate the interconnection of global cultures through the comparison and analysis between Western (European / American) and African myths and musical traditions of Kenyan communities. 
This project aims to create a unique mosaic of sound and narrative, transcending geographical and temporal boundaries, enhanced by new media. Bridging cultures by blending diverse musical traditions, styles and languages, creating a unique and harmonious soundscape that highlights the universality and diversity of human expression.

Thanks to the universal language of music and poetry, the audience can take an extraordinary poetic, sound and visual journey, across the historical periods, putting in relation musical forms, genres and stories to foster the preservation, exchange and dissemination of cultural heritage.

Integrating Multi-Platform Media: live performances, virtual reality experiences and interactive installations. Experimenting innovative storytelling methods using cutting-edge technology and immersive experiences.

Among the rich diversity of global cultures, investigating the possible common aspects that unite each other, going back to the main archetypes that have generated the cultural communities, while enhancing the unique characteristics.

Possible impacts of the project

A deeper cultural exchange, by promoting mutual appreciation among cultures and by sharing knowledge and narratives; a stronger relationship between innovation and tradition, in order to preserve and pass on the cultural heritage, by incorporating new technologies; Ékstasi seeks to foster a greater sense of global community, cultural empathy and mutual understanding.

Description of the activities of the Project

The activities carried out were:

Live Performances
Special events with storytelling reading, designed to be immersive and interactive, encouraging audience participation.

Collaborative Workshops, teaching-training

Artists from different backgrounds collaborate together, exchanging their unique perspectives and skills. 

Digital Archive
Developing a comprehensive digital library that includes 360 video of performances, interviews, sample sounds of ancient African instruments of great cultural significance and, legends from oral tradition.

VR Experience
Immersive VR environments, where the audience can explore different cultural landscapes, experiencing the music and stories in a deeply engaging way.

About the Program
Since the dawn of time, human beings have reverberated the echoes of the divine voice, entering a special state of consciousness called "Ecstasy". This state involves the renunciation of one's self which is offered as a sacred act. This is how the poet, the mystic, the shaman through this evocative energy, welcomes the divine gifts - the artistic creations - to offer them to all humanity as a symbol of universal Love. This process has always taken place thanks to oral tradition and storytellers, who play a central role within communities in passing on cultural values, teachings, history and, above all, keeping alive the relationship between humans and the Divine. This performance presents a special poetic and musical journey, through the intersection of Kenyan music - played with traditional instruments such as Litungu and Obokano, while the presence of a performing poet narrating fabulous ancient legends – and Western music – an excursus since its origin, from Homer’s epic poems and Sappho love poetry, passing to the great Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, up to the present day with the timeless lyrics and music by two great contemporary minstrels, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. The stunning immersive video projection enhances the emotional representation, while the innovative audio setting is powered by partial playbacks, sample sounds and software for orchestral arrangements with midi keyboards, involving the audience in cocreating a global immersive shared experience. The audience has the chance to experiment VR experience with oculus.

The program is divided into five sections, each dedicated to a particular poetic mode of expression: the first one is dedicated to Ancient Greece with great poets, the second to the Kenyan Traditional Music, then a special section is entirely dedicated to Giacomo Puccini in the Centenary Celebration (2024); follows Kenyan folk/pop music and a section of American music. Each piece was chosen either from the poetic text or from the inspired melody or from both, and in some cases the medieval practice of the contrafactum was used – i.e. the poetic custom of adapting a pre-existing sacred text to a profane melody: in this case we also did the opposite operation, creating a varied poetic and musical register. Each composition thus becomes a spiritual excursus, a sacred ritual and an aesthetic path, to celebrate beauty, which is none other than the form in which Love shows itself. 
Carla Zanin - concept, stage director, choreographer, storyteller
Federico Bardazzi - music director, midi keyboard, percussion

Kenyan Folk/Pop Music featuring traditional and Neo traditional styles

Dominic Ogari played the largest string instrument in Africa- Obokhano of the Abagusii
In this uplifting musical performance,  the performer takes the stage, bursting with joy and pride in his ability to foster unity and solidarity among his fellow countrymen. Backed by a vibrant  sound of the Obokhano string instrument of the Abagusii people,  he weaves melodies that celebrate togetherness, peace, and the strength of community bonds. His lyrics speak of overcoming divisions, bridging cultural gaps, and creating harmony among people of all walks of life. As the audience claps and dances along, the music becomes a shared experience—an anthem of triumph for a man whose greatest achievement is bringing hearts together in unity. This powerful performance serves as a reminder of the beauty in solidarity and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood

Wasike Mabonga Instrument the Litungu and Isukhuti drums of the luhyia community
In this soulful performance, a Luhya musical legend serenades his beloved, singing praises to her graceful curves and the undeniable charm she holds over him and their community. With each rhythmic beat of the isukuti drums and the melodic  strum on the instrument  ilitungu,  he celebrates her beauty—her hips that sway like the gentle rivers of their homeland and her presence that captivates everyone she meets. Her elegance is not only a reflection of her physical allure but a symbol of the strength and pride of the Luhya women, admired by all. This performance is more than a love song—it's a tribute to the beauty, grace, and power of womanhood, deeply woven into the heart of their culture

Mangi Yaa Instruments : A recorded track blended with live performance on the Chivoti and the Sengenya drums of the Giriama people
In a vibrant tale set near Lake Sametha, Mlangulo, a skilled fisherman, finds solace beneath the bamboo groves, where he plays his chivoti and catches the attention of Kahonzi, the chief’s cherished daughter. Their secret meetings bloom into a deep affection, but the chief's strict rules lead to Kahonzi being guarded closely. After losing her precious golden necklace while bathing, Kahonzi falls into despair, prompting her father to seek a solution. He decides to enlist Mlangulo, who possesses divine abilities inherited from his father. With determination, Mlangulo performs a sacred ritual that makes the lake safe from the hippopotamus and the crocodiles, then bravely retrieves the necklace. He presents it to the chief at dawn, earning Kahonzi's heartfelt gratitude and the promise of marriage.
Priscilla Gitonga - Kenyan musical program

PROGRAM

Poetry reading Σαπφώ: ποικιλόθρον' ἀθανάτ' Ἀφρόδιτα Sapho Aphrodite, adorned throne, immortal
Aphrodite, adorned throne, immortal
Narrative Voice Carla Zanin

ἀμφὶ δέ σ᾿ ἔστησαν κοῦραι ἁλίοιο γέροντος The daughters of the old man of the sea, Odyssey XXIV 57-65 Contrafactum di Tραγούδι traditional Ancient Phrygian Song
Patrizia Cigna

Intorno a te Daniele Garella
Lyrics Sappho To Gongila
Patrizia Cigna

Poetry Reading Oraya X2 Chingero Bonyangero - Solidarity in Love
Dominic Ogari
Dominic Ogari plays the largest string instrument in Africa: Obokhano of the Abagusii

Poetry Reading Kumwoyo Kwange - Kumwoyo my heart Wasike Mabonga
Wasike Mabonga Instruments: the Litungu and Isukhuti drums of the Luhyia community 

Poetry reading Giacomo Puccini Terra e mare
Narrative Voice Patrizia Cigna (19/10), Leonardo De Lisi (26/10)

Sole e amore Giacomo Puccini
Patrizia Cigna (19/10), Leonardo De Lisi (26/10)

O mio babbino caro Giacomo Puccini from Gianni Schicchi
Patrizia Cigna

Sì, mi chiamano Mimì Giacomo Puccini from La Bohème
Patrizia Cigna

Poetry reading Kolo ra Mwanzi - Beneath the Bamboo Mangi Yaa

Mangi Yaa Instruments: a recorded track blended with live performance on the Chivoti and the Sengenya drums of the Giriama people Mangi Yaa

Poetry reading My back pages Bob Dylan
Narrative Voice Carla Zanin

Like a rising sun Contrafactum of Like a Hurricane by Neil Young
Lyrics Carla Zanin
Patrizia Cigna

Forever young Bob Dylan
Patrizia Cigna (19/10), Leonardo De Lisi (26/10)

Cd ÉKSTASI on Spotify
open.spotify.com

Production ÉKSTASI on Youtube
youtube.com