It is an honor and a pleasure to collaborate with Zab Maboungou on the creation of the Mozongi choreographic toolkit, coordinated by Katya Montaignac in close collaboration with Zab.
A choreographic toolkit brings together the meaningful elements necessary for the recreation and understanding of a work; it documents it, preserves it, and ensures its transmission for posterity.
Zab Maboungou’s poetic work for performers and musicians, Mozongi, in Lingala (a language spoken in both Congos), means “Those who return.” It is a way of saying that those who have died have never left us, and that we, the living, are witnesses to the dead. Mozongi is the relationship that binds the living and the dead. Mozongi is a dance of time in which the dancers seek to endure. The space of the work is that projected by sound and silence, a space that expands or contracts as the music unfolds. This masterpiece from Nyata Nyata’s repertoire explores African aesthetics in music and dance in the contemporary world.
This multifaceted toolkit set aims to capture the creative process behind the work, its meaning, and its essence. It includes texts by Zab Maboungou and Katya Montaignac, as well as testimonials from twelve dancers and two drummers.
Crédits
Mozongi Traces et mémoires Choreographic Toolkit is a production of Espace Perreault Transmissions chorégraphiques.
Espace Perreault Transmissions chorégraphiques and Zab Maboungou | Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata are supported by :
– le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec ;
– le Conseil des arts du Canada ;
– le Conseil des arts de Montréal.
The realization of the Mozongi Traces et mémoires Choreographic Toolkit receives financial support from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, as part of the Exploration et déploiement numérique program.
Espace Perreault Transmissions chorégraphiques would like to express its sincere gratitude to Caisse de la culture Desjardins, sponsor of the Mozongi Traces et mémoires Choreographic Toolkit.
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Writing : Zab Maboungou, Katya Montaignac
Testimonials : Marie-Denise Bettez, Kristina «Kriss B» Brown, Reena Almoneda Chang, Daniel Diaz, Aïchatou Erna Labarang alias Intuïtiv, Mona El Husseini, Maryse Jeanneau, Marion Landers, Claudine Malard, Bruno Martinez, Elli Miller-Maboungou, Jeanne Maugenest, Raphaëlle Perreault, George Stamos
Conceptualization and research : Katya Montaignac
Editing : Romy Snauwaert
Proofreading : Ariane Dessaulles, Lise Gagnon
Overall coordination : Ariane Dessaulles
Compilation of press reviews and references : Katya Montaignac
Graphic design and layout : Anne-Laure Jean
Webmaster : Guillaume Sanfaçon (Viande & Substituts enr.)
Cover photo: Kevin Calixte, 2014. In the photo : Luis Cabanzo, Raphaëlle Perreault, Jennifer Morse, Mithra Rabel, Aboubacar Mané
Source of visual archives : Zab Maboungou | Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata
Photos : Carson Asmundson, Kevin Calixte, Foteini Christofilopoulou, Mathi LP, Xavier Lluis, Pierre Manning, Michel Pinault, Katya Montaignac, Marc Verret
Original idea for the Choreographic Toolkit : Ginelle Chagnon
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Disclaimer – Choreographer Zab Maboungou or her beneficiaries are the exclusive owners, assignees, or licensees of the intellectual property rights to Mozongi. Consulting or purchasing the Choreographic Toolkit does not confer any right to use or exploit Mozongi in whole or in part in any form whatsoever. Any use of Mozongi, in whole or in part, requires the authorization of the choreographer or her beneficiaries.
ISBN : 978-2-924805-13-8 (printed version)
ISBN : 978-2-924805-14-5 (PDF)
Legal deposit – Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 2025
Legal deposit – Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, 2025
© Espace Perreault Transmissions chorégraphiques, 2025
All rights reserved for all countries. Any translation or reproduction in any form whatsoever is prohibited without the authorization of Espace Perreault Transmissions chorégraphiques.
