KABITENI is gemaakt door hiphoptheater-pioniers Lloyd Marengo (choreografie) en Marjorie Boston (regie) met assistentie van B-Boy Dietrich Pott. In 2022 hebben Marengo de Gouden Zwaan en Pott de Jonge Zwaan gewonnen. Boston is artistiek directeur van Right About Now.  

De charismatische ‘kabiteni’ wordt verbeeld door Angelika Naingie, bekend van de theatervoorstelling ‘Sporen van Haar’. De performers hebben ook hun sporen verdiend. Zo speelde Kevin Thompson eerder voor het Nationale Ballet en ISH, kreeg Djinti Sullivan de hoofdrol in ‘Giselle’ van de Toneelmakerij & Dox, won Ciara Hiwat de BNG Bankprijs en kreeg Uhr’lice Rosaria een beurs van de Vanden Ende Foundation. 

Let yourself be transported to Bendikonde, a Surinamese village, where Georgetina, the “kabiteni” (captain) is at the helm. Her singing and stories, with the energetic hip-hop and Surinamese Awasa dance of the four other outspoken performers, form the heartbeat of KABITENI. They take you into the story of the village in a backdrop of visuals shot in the interior of Suriname. The performance is surrounded by eclectic, warm and uplifting compositions inspired by hip-hop, Awasa rhythms and life by the river. 

So you imagine yourself a real “Kabiteni” and feel the challenges facing the tough Georgetina. She has to balance between tradition and innovation, between how things used to be and now. In doing so, she guards the future of her community, which once resisted slavery. The performance translates this resistance and strength into today’s vibrant hip-hop culture. 

KABITENI energetically brings together an extraordinary history, culture and innovation in a rich mix of music, dance and visuals.