Vagabundus

In Latin, vagabundus means “wanderer.” In his own Vagabundus, Mozambican choreographer Idio Chichava illuminates the notion of immigration through the lens of the human body. Conscious or forced, immigration can be seen as an invisible human stream, with the immigrant being the par excellence nomad of our era—a settler, an explorer, but also a drifter. In a performance with no obvious beginning or end, thirteen performers dance and, at the same time, sing traditional and present-day Mozambican melodies blending gospel and baroque motifs. Chichava is inspired by the ritual dances of the Makonde tribe in Mozambique, which organically convey the collective memory of the community through the combination of dance and song. After all, the vital connection between dance and music is deeply embedded in the African culture. According to the creator, full expression can only be attained by a body that dances and sings at the same time, let alone existing in true synergy with other bodies. For Chichava, the eruptive dimension of dance—when coupled with the force of the human voice—needs no further support from elaborate set design, costumes, or lighting.

Idio Chichava began his career in 2000. He trained at the renowned PARTS dance school of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and apprenticed under Lia Rodriguez. He has been a member of the Toulon-based Kubilai Khan Investigations dance company since 2005 and was distinguished with the SEED Award in 2024. After a successful career in France, he returned to his home country, where he became actively involved in the promotion of creative exchange and the provision of dance education in local communities for free, as well as the presentation of works in public spaces. He is the choreographer and artistic director of Converge+ Mozambique Dance Company.