Zab_Maboungou Knowpia

Zab Maboungou is a Franco-Congolese dancer, writer and choreographer.

Biography edit

Born in France and raised in Congo-Brazzaville, Maboungou is based in Montreal where she founded the Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata in 1988.^[1] She has since choreographed and performed numerous solo and group works, among which Mozongi which received the Prix de la danse de Montréal in 2015.^[2]

Maboungou's steadfast advocacy and support of dance and the performing arts of Africa and the diaspora has garnered her numerous prizes and accolades, including being honoured during Kriye Bode’s 5th Annual Colloquium on Haitian Dance & Drum at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.^[3]

Since 2004 Nyata Nyata has also been a teaching institution, dispensing the two-year Programme d’entraînement et de formation artistique et professionnel en danse (PEFAPDA - artistic and professional training program in dance).

Since 2015 Zab Maboungou/Compagnie danse Nyata Nyata has been a member of the International Dance Council.

In May 2019, Maboungou was named to L'Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec.^[4]. Dubbed a "Queen Mother" by the CBC, Zab Maboungou was the 2021 recipient of the Governor General's Award Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award, Canada's highest civilian recognition in the field^[5].

Dance works edit

1993 : Réverdanse
1997 : Mozongi
1999 : Incantation
2005 : Lwáza
2006 : Nsamu
2007 : Décompte
2009 : Gestes Dé/libérés
2010 : Montréal by Night
2018 : Wamunzo

Writing edit

Heya... danse ! Historique, poétique et didactique de la danse africaine, CIDIHCA, Montréal, Canada, 2005

Awards edit

1999 : "Grand hommage", Ministry of culture of Cameroon
2003 : "Pioneer of African Dance in Canada", Dance Immersion, Toronto
2015 : Prix de la danse de Montréal, Prix du CAM pour la diversité culturelle en danse
2019 : L’Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec
2021 : Governor General's Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award

References edit

^ Szporer, Philip (2012-01-01). "In Conversation with Zab Maboungou". The Dance Current. 15 (1). Retrieved 4 June 2019.
^ Dufort, François. "Dfdanse - Les lauréats 2015 du grand prix de la danse de Montréal -PRIX DE LA DANSE DE MONTRÉAL 2015". www.dfdanse.com (in French). Retrieved 2019-03-13.
^ "An evening with Zab Maboungou". Baryshnikov Arts Center. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
^ ""Dix-sept ambassadeurs culturels honorés pour souligner les 25 ans du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec"" (in French). May 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
^ https://www.cbc.ca/arts/a-true-queen-mother-how-zab-maboungou-paved-the-way-for-black-female-dancers-everywhere-1.6252454