Shamsa KiwanukaExtreme Unction Vol: 2 is an hour-long exploration of radical care, pleasure and transformation for BIPOC bodies. It is an audio experience which cleanses the mind and spirit. Exploring the worldly elements: fire, earth, water and air, Nwando Ebizie uses multi-sensory stimulations to create an alternate reality. Inspired by science fiction, and her own Nigerian heritage, Ebizie proposes new ideologies for change within the individual and their wider community.
The production describes how ‘in these rituals we feel light flowing into light, water into water, and our bodies as vessels through which all things flow. We journey to a magical place – a quiet, dark place of self-care and love – through to an infinite roaring ocean.’
This is a cathartic production, narrated by Jennifer Meteti, who assembles a safe environment with her steady pace and assertive tone. There is an element of wisdom to her voice, making it easier to comply with her articulate instructions and absorb her advice as she says ‘you are the star of the show’. The production resembles a self-help podcast and encourages us to be the author of our own story. Meteti’s voice and words soothe our pain and prompt us to get rid of the unwanted thoughts by ‘blowing [them] out like a candle’.
When Meteti paces our breath, our attention narrows to this unconscious movement we ignore yet desperately rely on. It becomes conscious breathing, forcing the mind to focus and become still. During this, Christopher Bangs plays unsettling notes on the cello, which create a tense atmosphere. It engages the hidden parts of the journey to discover.
At times, however, percussion overpowers Meteti’s voice. The crescendo of the tense music in the background can diminish the power of the lyrics and be distracting. ‘A bright, warm sunshine day’ perhaps does not suit the eery music in the background.
I do find, though, that the majority of the soundscapes complement the narration well. The splashing water and the wind chimes, for example, have a tranquil effect.
Ebizie seeks to bring Afrofuturism to life and rebirth people of colour with this metamorphic experience. Naturally, it is utopic escapism and provides a moment of self-reflection and pause amidst the speed of life. The extent of my transformation is limited, but this timeless piece is an individual experience that I can refer back to at another point in life. If it is a ‘universal cycle’ there should be a time for me to revisit my transformation and continue from where I left off.
Extreme Unction Vol:2 An audio journey is playing online. For more information and tickets see Take Me Somewhere Festival’s website.