Mama Ararira: a story of reunion after tragedy

Sabrina Kooistra
Times Junior Contributor

 

Audience members were treated to a unique production this week, filled with local talent, African culture, and the remarkable true story of a young community member.
From Dec. 14-16, Strathmore High School (SHS) Dance 25 and Dance 35 classes presented a dramatic retelling of the beautiful reunion of Rwandan-Canadian Grade 11 student Rachel Mutesi with her mother.
The 45-minute production featured Mutesi’s journey of believing she was virtually an orphan for six years, her struggle to grip the reality of a murdered father and a missing mother, and finally, the anticipated reunion at the Calgary International Airport when she was 12 years old.
Just over 20 years ago, the country of Rwanda was torn apart due to a horrific genocide that lasted 100 days. This did not mark the end of the turmoil, though, and six years after the end of the genocide, the continued violence placed Mutesi in the hands of an unkind caregiver when her parents disappeared unexpectedly – she was only six years old.
For the next six years, Mutesi’s mother was hunted, relocated to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and lived as a homeless woman outside of refugee camps and in front of immigration offices waiting for a country to accept her. She endured these conditions in hopes of one day reuniting with her daughter.
Upon entering the theatre, audience members were greeted by traditional African drumming and throughout the show, were enchanted by the dancing and singing of Alueter Demshakwa, Mutesi’s theatrical mother, and Mutesi as herself. A unique aspect of this show was the usage of English and traditional languages, which were Kinya Rwanda and Tiv, spoken by Mutesi and Demshakwa.
The dancers were also a major component of the show, filling the space between the testimonies of Mutesi and also reciting her story through dance and the usage of props such as lengthy grass sprigs.
In addition to the emotional and moving side of Mama Ararira, the play was very much an interactive performance. As part of an African tradition of encouraging community members to dance together, performers pulled audience members on stage to join them in a group dance, which can be interpreted as a sign of tradition and the relationship Mutesi now has with her Canadian brothers and sisters. Audience members were also given the opportunity to quiz the dancers and actresses on the impact that contributing to this type of production had on them.
With the production of Mama Ararira and New Blood, a 2014 play about an SHS student and his grandfather’s experiences as a residential school student, Strathmore and SHS are becoming increasingly interconnected by each other’s diversity.
The timing of this production greatly impacted the performers, as Canada and the world are currently dealing with the difficult issues of war and displacement of the Syrian people who are now entering our country. It brings to life the importance of our individual and collective identities. Even though we were all born into varying circumstances and cultures, our individuality is often what binds us together.