Wanjiku Victoria Seest BLINKERED

A cross-disciplinary piece that invites you to listen, see and challenge your biases through an array of narratives. It breaks down the single story told about Africa. By way of story sound, music, video and performance it suggests a humane alternative to the prevailing stereotypes.

‘…never have I felt confronted by my identity as from the moment I set foot outside of my place of origin. I have felt words, stereotypes, prejudgments cling to my body without an immediate outlet.’

BLINKERED - a word that translates as having or showing a narrow or limited outlook (Oxford Languages) - takes on the narrative of the one story told about Africa and explores its effect on the African body. It bounces the words and experiences back into the consciousness of enmasse and breaking it down to the story of the individual.

Blinkered begs you to listen, see and question your preconceived notions when it comes to the portrayal of Africa in the media, versus the real stories on the ground. It invites you to open your imagination to the myriads of narratives and lived experiences found daily on a continent inhabited by over a billion people.

Blinkered, though inspired by Chimamanda Adichie’s TED Talk titled The Danger of a Single Story, is based on personal experiences with stereotyping and why these do not match our existence.

‘…the narrative has never matched my own upbringing and meeting it has forced me to confront and embrace my own identity.’

Wanjiku Victoria Seest is an actor, writer, singer, digger and a passionate cultural and historical enthusiast, born and raised in Kenya. She speaks five languages.

Wanjiku addresses the question of nationalism and digs into the historical context of human movements and migrations, the cultural aspects of traditions and the similarities between seemingly differed societies with these traditions as the glue.

Wanjiku is a founding member of ACT Denmark with productions including Merchant of Copenhagen, Enemy of the people and For Colored Girls, as well as an active member and board member (2020 – 2022) of the New Nordic Network, a network of performing arts organizations, groups and collectives based in Helsinki Finland.

Idea and performer Wanjiku Victoria Seest

Manuscript Wanjiku Victoria Seest, Gathoni wa Wairura

Dramaturge Gathoni wa Wairura

Director Delia Trice

Music, sound design, Video Kibby the Freak, Brian Opendo Staging and scenography Delia Trice

Costumes and props Wanjiku Victoria Seest, Gathoni wa Wairura