13.12 shares ancient knowledge through experiences that illuminate and inspire.
With an interdisciplinary focus, we bring together artists, cultural elders, communities and academics to present multi-artform experiences and to nurture research that promotes ancient wisdom cultures and global indigenous ways of knowing.
In an increasingly uncertain and disconnected world, ancient wisdom cultures are more important than ever, to activate community renewal, conviviality, new conciousness and to discover transformative ways of seeing, feeling and being.
An ancient African cosmovision illuminates this pathway through an understanding that we exist within an interconnected universe of spheres - of the spirit, nature and cosmos. By engaging with Xaam Xamm mou Yeuk Yeuk, or the experiential, embodied way of knowing, a connection is established between the conscious and unconscious mind and between the seen and unseen worlds and is woven together with Xaam Xaam mou Naat - the observation and measurement of patterns, numbers and cycles.
The perpetuity of this ancient knowledge or Xaam Xaam mou dekkile is constantly renewed in an infinite cycle through the collective experience of music, dance, ritual and rhythm. These creative encounters are the fabric for connecting with each other and experiencing the cosmos as a place of belonging.
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 and collaborators
SUE CLARK | RESEARCHER
OLIVE MOYNIHAN | PRODUCER
KINE AW | VISUAL ARTIST
OUMY SENE | CULTURAL ADVISOR
SOPHIA KOSTAVA | ASSOC. PRODUCER
ROGER ALSOP | SOUND DESIGN
DOUDOU THIOUNE | GUEWEL / ARTIST
DAVID JOSEPH | ASST. DIRECTOR (theatre)
ANITA QUAYLE | CELLIST
BOULY SONKO | CUTURAL ADVISOR
KAREN BERGER | ASST. DIRECTOR (theatre)
JOSEPH FRANKLIN | BASSIST