Mambamutu – the mermaids of Lake Kivu

Drawing on ritual gestures and local legends, the Mambamutu initiative builds a collective performance. Alongside artists Florence Bermond, Darel Longundu, and Thomas Lusango, ten participants transform their daily movements into a choreographic language. Fetching water, selling fish, or carrying heavy loads become gestures of strength and assertion. The mermaid Mambamutu, a mystical figure and protector of women, comes to life through them, offering a space to exist differently.

Singing, dancing, creating costumes—every aspect of this creation is an act of reclaiming identity. The women’s chorus sings words inspired by the legend of Mambamutu, accompanied by vibrant percussion. Local seamstresses design and craft costumes inspired by the waters of Kivu, extending the artistic gesture into textile creation. This fusion of performing arts and local storytelling invites us to see these women not as ordinary silhouettes but as essential figures in the life of the island.