Rue Princesse

Rue Princesse is a legendary entertainment strip located in the West African city of Abidjan. In a country constantly shaken by political, economic and social crises, a young generation of DJs, dancers and video filmmakers have cultivated their own urban way of life and artistic style in recent years. The artists Monika Gintersdorfer and Knut Klaßen have decided to base their research on this urban lifestyle under civil war-like conditions and the overlapping of serious and light entertainment culture. Together with Ivorian artists and guests from Germany, the artist duo was developing theatre productions, concerts, performances and films which they presented during a festival on Rue Princesse. Their production DJ Mystique incorporated a number of nationally relevant issues, including Ivorian politics, religion and show business.
The artists then presented their work at Kampnagel in Hamburg and the Berlin House of World Cultures. Both venues featured a festival and stage modelled after those on Rue Princesse, along with small show stages, video cinema, fashion studio and temporary sound studio, in which Ivorian and German artists produced live performances.

Artistic director: Monika Gintersdorfer, Knut Klaßen
Participants / artists: AlexandLiane, Marc Aschenbrenner, Anelka Chanel, Gotta Depri (CI), Cornelia Dörr, Ted Gaier, Gob Squad, Hauke Heumann, Nadine Jessen, Prince Kreol, N'Soleh (CI), Peter Ott, Melissa Logan, Jacques Palminger/Carsten Erobique Meyer, Jochen Roller, Shaggy Sharoof (CI), Richard Siegal, Franck Edmond Yao alias Gadoukou la Star (CI) and others

Venues and schedule:
Ivory Coast, Monde-Arabe, La Pyramide, Abidjan, 14 – 18 Apr. 2010
House of World Cultures, Berlin, 2 – 4 Sept. 2010
Kampnagel Hamburg, 7 – 9 Oct. 2010