Banga Colectivo

The word ‘banga’ in contemporary urban Angolan slang means ‘one’s own style’, a self-regard of high esteem, often reflected in clothing and ways of dressing. For the members of this collective, ‘banga’ is an important part of their identity – a means of protest against the dominant colonial narrative that viewed Africans as ‘uncultured’ and ‘uncivilised’. Historically, the Soba was a king, a traditional regional authority, who ruled over a sobado. Today, the word ‘soba’ has come to mean something else, typically the ‘bridge’ figure between the contemporary democratic government and local, often rural, communities. In The Laboratory of the Future, Banga Colectivo aims to revitalise the figure of the Soba finding ways to understand how figures with specific historical roles can transform and adapt to new realities. For them – a group that follows a cross-, trans-, and interdisciplinary model – the Soba is not merely a historical figure or a contemporary ‘go-between’: the Soba is a messenger.

Team
Isla de França, Pedro Monteiro – OficinaLab Fabricação Criativa
With the additional support of
African Futures Institute