Arts and Creative Industries / Digital Arts / South African premiere of Kancícà at the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome

South African premiere of Kancícà at the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome

Arts and Creative Industries
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7 May

The South African premiere of Kancícà took place on 7 April 2026 at the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome in Johannesburg, marking an important moment for immersive creation on the continent. Presented as part of the Immersive Africa initiative, supported by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and European and local partners, the event brought together approximately 200 guests from cultural, diplomatic, academic and creative sectors.

The evening featured contributions from several leading figures, including Prof. Lynn Morris (University of the Witwatersrand), H.E. Sandra Kramer (Ambassador of the European Union to South Africa), H.E. David Martinon (Ambassador of France to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi), Michael Swierczynski (Dream Feel Factory) and Elisabeth Gomis (MansA – Maison des Mondes Africains).

Co-produced by teams in Benin, Brazil and France, Kancícà traces the journey of Queen Na Agontimé across the Atlantic, combining historical narrative with elements of vodun spirituality and visual experimentation. Presented in a dome format, the work brings together 3D animation, shadow theatre and hand-drawn imagery to explore memory and cultural transmission.

The premiere programme also featured Kwasukasukela, a South African immersive work co-produced with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS). Drawing on African spiritual traditions, the piece reimagines a creation myth through a combination of poetry, sound and digital visualisation.

Both works are now part of the public programme at the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, with regular screenings running from April to August 2026.

For details about upcoming screenings, click here.

Immersive Africa: Bridging Continents Through Digital Creativity is an Africa–Europe cultural initiative under the EUNIC Global Spaces of Culture programme (2025–2026), led by the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct (Wits University) and delivered by the Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, combining public immersive programming and professional exchange to support co-production and distribution between Africa and Europe.

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