Nkeiruka Oruche has been collaborating with a host of talented artists and the Dance Brigade’s Dance Mission Theater to develop “Wey You Dey?” or “What Had Happened Was…, An Afro-Urban Musical,” The work, directed by Tossie Long, is premiering on November 10 at The Flight Deck in Oakland and November 16 and 17 at Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco. Tickets are available.
The performance flier invites audiences to “Get all wrapped up in a hot blooded performance of dance, storytelling, video, afrobeats, soca, hip-hop, blues, dancehall, rumba, soukous, and electrifying visuals! A trail of personal stories will guide as we swivel along a timeline of Afro Urban culture from its birthplace on the cities of Africa, to the beats on the streets of Black America and the world. Ain’t no mountain high enough as we raise the roof and raise the questions ‘Where did we come from?’ ‘Where are we going?’ ‘When will we arrive?!’
The event is presented as part of the Afro Urban Society’s 2018 Bakanal de Afrique, Afro Urban Festival, which “brings us together across cultures, and showcases new, emerging and underground urban art, culture and people through performance, workshops, visual media and conversations.” It is co-produced by Dance Mission Theater.