Audreille Sibomana, Ndayishimiye Paulin, and Ntsinzi Joyeux showcasing their moves during their performance at Alliance Francaise, Nairobi on September 25, 2025./DOUGLAS OKIDDYThe evening air at Alliance Française Nairobi was alive with anticipation as a vibrant crowd streamed in to fill the auditorium.
Soft lights glowed across the walls, Afrobeat rhythms floated through the space, and bursts of laughter and chatter echoed against the sound of drums being tested.
From every walk of life, people gathered at the front rows, curious and eager to witness Par Ici La Vie—a powerful live performance by Burundi’s Iwacu Dance Company.
The stage was minimal yet spirited, with every light trained on it. When the audience finally settled, Alliance Française director Olivia Deroint welcomed the performers, setting the tone for an evening of artistry and connection.
The show began gently, with dancers holding still for several minutes—faces stoic, bodies distant, one lying on the corner of the stage as music pulsed like a heartbeat.
Slowly, movement emerged. Smiles flashed, limbs twisted into bold, unexpected shapes, and the rhythm grew heavier. The choreography turned into a living story, weaving struggles, hopes, and dreams of a generation in search of freedom.
On stage were three energetic dancers—Audreille Sibomana, Ndayishimiye Paulin, and Ntsinzi Joyeux—whose performance embodied the poetry of migration: the strength of friendship, the weight of departure, the longing of displaced people, and the fragile hope of home. The audience swayed, clapped, and gasped in response. Some were caught in memories, others in awe, but all were swept into the rhythm.
“This way, life”—the English meaning of Par Ici La Vie—felt fitting. It was more than a dance. It was a celebration of roots, identity, and resilience.
Ndayishimiye Paulin, Audreille Sibomana, and Ntsinzi Joyeux during their performance at Alliance Francaise, Nairobi on September 25, 2025./DOUGLAS OKIDDYWhen the final notes faded and the lights dimmed, the auditorium erupted in long, thunderous applause.
Faces glowed with smiles as people left the venue, many carrying with them not just the memory of a performance, but a deep sense of connection—as if they had travelled through East Africa’s heart and back in a single evening.
The night also featured Kenya’s Zamaleo Sigana Storytellers, who opened with Travails of Search and Hope.
Through drums and voices, they spun tales of courage and displacement, drawing the audience into stories of refugees across Eastern and Central Africa. By the time they left the stage, the room was buzzing with laughter, reflection, and energy.
The Iwacu Dance Company, supported by Institut Français in Paris and French cultural institutions across the region, has been touring cities including Lubumbashi, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kampala. Under the choreography of Sibomana, their work continues to move audiences, reminding them of the shared humanity and unbreakable spirit that dance can bring to life.
