13.12 shares ancient knowledge through experiences that illuminate and inspire.

We bring together artists, cultural elders, communities, and academics to present multi-artform experiences and to nurture research that explores ancient African ways of knowing and being.

 

Founded in 2018 by Director Lamine Sonko and Producer Olive Moynihan, 13.12 integrates a practice-based approach that fosters new models for knowledge generation through interdisciplinary arts, including theatre, film, and music. Working in collaboration with universities and research institutions, we explore African epistemologies within contemporary academic and creative contexts, bridging artistic expression and traditional knowledge.

 

LAMINE SONKO | DIRECTOR

 

Director, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Lamine Sonko draws on traditional wisdom to create inter-disciplinary & multi-sensory arts experiences inspired by his cultural background as a guewel (hereditary cultural role) descendant of the Sing Sing clan and Korings of Kaabu, and a member of the Serer, Wolof and Mandinko cultural communities of Senegal. As a guewel his role is to be a keeper and communicator of history, customs, rituals and sacred knowledge through music, dance and oral storytelling. Lamine Sonko’s artistic practice is informed by a lifetime of learning embodied cultural knowledge within his community. Beginning in early childhood, this cultural education is guided by community elders and takes place through observation and participation in sacred rituals and ceremonies including rhythmic, chant and dance traditions Through his work he defines new ways to present and re-imagine the traditional African, contemporary and traditional synthesis in the arts. As a composer he has arranged and recorded award-winning music and has presented and performed throughout Australia and internationally.

 

TEAM & COLLABORATORS

 

Awa Coulibaly is a highly respected principal dancer with La Linguère, the resident dance company of the National Theatre Daniel Sorano. Renowned for her commanding stage presence, physical strength, and technical mastery of traditional Senegalese dance forms, Awa has been a prominent member of the ballet for over 15 years performing throughout Senegal and internationally as a leading dancer. Her work is rooted in cultural preservation and artistic excellence. She is also an experienced dance workshop facilitator, teaching students from all over the world though the theatre’s residency programs.

AWA COULIBALY | DANCER

OLIVE MOYNIHAN is a multi-disciplinary producer, filmmaker and researcher. Her work centres on practice-based arts and research where she collaborates with cultural custodians to nurture creativity that articulates an authentic and self-determined voice through the arts. Her approach bridges artistic practice, cultural agency, and knowledge production, fostering spaces of co-creation and cultural exchange to reimagine how stories are shared and understood. Co-founder of 13.12, she has lived and travelled extensively throughout West Africa, and is committed to preserving and promoting indigenous epistemologies and interdisciplinary collaboration in cultural research.

OLIVE MOYNIHAN | PRODUCER

Sue’s extensive experience in Arts & Cultural industries spans over 56 years, working in Federal, State and Local Governments, Education, Employment and Training, Community and Corporate Development sectors. Her strategic planning & development key appointments include: Arts Training Consultant at Australia Council Community Arts Board(1979-81); Senior Manager, Victorian Ministry for Arts (1982-92) and Founder/Director of Centre for Cultural Partnerships - Faculty VCA & MCM, University of Melbourne (2004-2015). In addition, Sue established in 1992 her ongoing business Torque Arts P/L in cross-sectoral partnership initiatives for developing Arts & Cultural Strategy Plans, Public Arts Strategy Plans, Arts & Cultural Facility developments and Creative Entrepreneurship Enterprise Initiatives. Sue over many years, has studied Sacred Geometry, Ancient Numerology and the Philosophy of Phenomenology.

SUE CLARK | RESEARCHER

Kine Aw’s themes are inspired by her Senegalese heritage and the world of women in the Sahel: round forms, beauty, tradition versus modernity. Most of her paintings and sketches have a distinct cubist style, characterised by organic geometric forms. Based in Dakar, Senegal, Kine graduated from the National School of Arts in 2006. In 2008, she won the first edition of The Cuomo Foundation painting award for her outstanding work. She has exhibited her work globally including Mbari Institute in Washington in 2010, Winterhur in Switzerland in collaboration with Afropfingsten (KUNSTWERKRAUM) Festival in 2009 and with the Serengheti gallery in Washington in 2010.

Kine Aw’s themes are inspired by her Senegalese heritage and the world of women in the Sahel: round forms, beauty, tradition versus modernity. Most of her paintings and sketches have a distinct cubist style, characterised by organic geometric forms. Based in Dakar, Senegal, Kine graduated from the National School of Arts in 2006. In 2008, she won the first edition of The Cuomo Foundation painting award for her outstanding work. She has exhibited her work globally including Mbari Institute in Washington in 2010, Winterhur in Switzerland in collaboration with Afropfingsten (KUNSTWERKRAUM) Festival in 2009 and with the Serengheti gallery in Washington in 2010.

KINE AW | VISUAL ARTIST

Aminata Sarr is an accomplished Senegalese dancer and actor, currently a lead performer with the Ballet National ‘La Linguère’ at the National Theatre Daniel Sorano in Dakar. With a career spanning over eight years, she has performed in acclaimed national and international tours across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, bringing traditional and contemporary Senegalese performance to global audiences. Her stage and screen credits include featured roles in productions such as ‘L’Alchimie des Rythmes’ with Step Africa! (USA), ‘La Linguère’ at Expo 2023 in Doha, ‘Le Epope’ (India), and lead actor of the award-nominated film ‘La Boxeuse’by Guddi Productions.

AMINATA SARR | DANCER

Oumy Sene is one of Senegal’s most respected guewel elders. She is a member of a council of high priestesses that preside over cultural ceremonies and a direct descendant of the Sing Sing lineage responsible for maintaining sabar drumming practices in Senegal. Oumy has a specific role in understanding and preserving the rhythmic knowledge and oral history of the Serer and Wolof traditions and its connection to cosmology and nature.

OUMY SENE | CULTURAL ADVISOR

Sophia Kostava is founding director of social enterprise start-up 'Optimistic Art Projects' (oART). She works with artists to nurture projects that create optimistic outcomes and ignite societies’ curiosity and well-being. Sophia is a strategist at heart, with a passion for partnering with artists to create cultural assets that are sustainable and have longevity. Sophia has an extensive managerial background in both the commercial and not for profit sectors, specialising in strategy, change and project management.

SOPHIA KOSTAVA | ASSOC. PRODUCER

RHIAN HINKLEY | PROJECTION DESIGNER

Abdoul Aziz Ngom is a master sabar drummer and dancer who was born into a griot family and trained in the tradition of guewel cultural practices from a young age within his community. Recognised for his mastery of complex rhythms in percussion and dance ensembles, he joined the National Theatre Daniel Sorano in 2017 and has performed in numerous major productions and international tours. He continues to innovate within the sabar tradition, collaborating with dancers, vocalists, and musicians to reimagine cultural forms through performance, education, and community engagement.

ABDOUL AZIZ NGOM | MUSICIAN

Doudou is a guewel and descendant of the Sing Sing clan, cultural elder and one of Senegal’s most respected percussionists. Dedicated to the practice of Sabar from an early age, he established his first sabar group in Medina rue 11x12 and joined the National Theatre Sorano at age 16 working with the  traditional instrumental ensemble and later on joined the ‘Ballet Sira Badral’. Over many decades he has taught and performed throughout Africa, Europe and South America.

DOUDOU THIOUNE | GUEWEL / ARTIST

David Joseph is a multi-skilled physical performer and theatre maker with over 35 years professional experience. He is an award winning actor and musician, co-director of Bowerbird Theatre (with Karen Berger), a committed community artist and social circus trainer and a highly regarded workshop facilitator. In 2016 he devised and performed his award winning solo show Deceptive Threads and completed an MA in Applied Theatre Studies at the University of New England, for which he received the ADSA Philip Parsons Prize for Best Performance as Research project in Australasia. In 2014 he performed in Tales of the Laneways and Behind the Public Eye as part of The 24 Hour Experience and completed a two-month national tour of Controlled Falling Project.

DAVID JOSEPH | ASST. DIRECTOR


Anita Quayle is a contemporary cellist and composer with a flair for the unconventional. She began her training at the Victorian College of the Arts and graduated with a BA in Contemporary Music. During her 25 years in the industry. Anita has collaborated with a vast array of artists, including singers/songwriters: Eddie Perfect, Shauntai Batzke, Russell Morris, Ainslie Wills, Nat Bartsch and RnB songstress Thando; dancer Alya Manzart from Chunky Move and playwright Adam Cass.

ANITA QUAYLE | CELLIST

Ndick Sene is a master ritii (traditional violin) player and respected cultural elder of the Serer people of the Thies cultural community with over 30 years of professional experience. As a member of the National Theatre of Senegal’s traditional music ensemble he has played a vital role in preserving and promoting Senegal’s ceremonial and ritual music traditions. Ndick has performed across Senegal and internationally at major cultural festivals and theatrical productions.

NDICK SENE | MUSICIAN

Bouly Sonko was director of Senegal’s national ballet - La Ballet National du Senegal, from 1982 - 2004. For over three decades he led the company of 35 dancers and musicians presenting award-winning work at performance halls and arts festivals around the world. His defining work, the internationally acclaimed ‘Pangols’ - was described as an exploration of ‘the spiritual nature of all living things’ (New York Times). Bouly’s work is a landmark in the history of West African performing arts and has influenced generations to explore the deep cultural meaning within music, dance and theatre traditions. In 13:12 he contributes his extensive knowledge of the arts and in particular the lesser-known and slowly dissapearing ancient arts traditions that exist in remote and regional parts of West Africa

BOULY SONKO | CUTURAL ADVISOR

Karen has worked in Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe as a director, musical director, actor and musician. She has performed in the Edinburgh, Melbourne and Singapore Festivals and assistant directed for MTC. As well as degrees in music, theatre and maths, Karen has a grounding in African culture, having studied percussion in Ghana and Senegal, lectured at the University of Ghana, co-directed a circus show with street kids in Gambia, and worked with various African community groups in Melbourne. Karen is soon to complete her PhD in Performance Studies from Federation University.

KAREN BERGER | ASST. DIRECTOR

Suzie Bates is a visual artist and arts educator who lives and works on Taungurung Country in North-east Victoria. She has collaborated with artists and environmental groups near her home in the Strathbogie Ranges to deliver music and art events, many with creative sets and costumes. She is passionate about Community Art that is inclusive and culturally diverse. Completing a Bachelor of Fine Art majoring in Sculpture at the VCA in in 2003 she has exhibited in dozens of group shows and had a solo show titled Sanctuary in 2023.  Suzie’s practice centres on her travels and local environment, exploring environmental and mythic themes in sculpture, printmaking and photography. She has visited many stone circle sites in England and while yet to visit the Senegambian stone circles she recently travelled to Senegal and was extremely inspired by the people and culture there.

SUZIE BATES | SET DESIGN