JAN 14-15 and JAN 20-22, 2023

Doors open at 7PM

CULTURALDC’S Source Theatre

This performance created for the stage, is adapted from a portion of my original short story titled, While You Sleep. The story was inspired by a statement from Barbadian poet, Kamau Brathwaite who spoke of the need for a ritual to keep the souls of the millions of enslaved Africans who perished during the transatlantic journey from coming back to haunt us. Within this story and performance, Jouvay is positioned as the annual seance which keeps this haunting at bay.

The story takes place during Carnival season somewhere in the Caribbean. The main character, Ele, a young poet, has surreal nightmares every year during this season. The closer it gets to Jouvay (J’ouvert), or the unofficial start of Carnival, which takes place on the Monday before Ash Wednesday, the spirit of the ancestors in the dreams become less troubled.  Though each dream is full of symbols and meanings that are somewhat recognizable, Ele seeks insight from elders in the community to find meaning of their dreams, land’s history, and themselves. created during Nyugen’s stay in Washington, DC.