Festival of the Earth (Alaraagbo XIII), 2018

Jelili AtikuFestival of the Earth (Alaraagbo XIII) (2018), performance, mixed media installation

Section: City on Stage

Festino della Terra (Alaraagbo XIII) is a processional performance that incorporates festival rituals of walking with the transport of plants and soil, sound making and the carrying of sacred sculptural objects, to present allegorical and metaphorical statements on the issues of migration and immigration. Working with the concept of an allegory of plants, the work aims at redirecting attention to the essence and pivotal contributions of earth to the world. The piece borrows character and values from the history, knowledge, celebration and procession of Santa Rosalia in Palermo, but also from the ancient archetype of the Green Man, from Yoruba and West African traditional stories, myths, beliefs about earth, trees and Osain, the divine Orisha of plants.
The performance took place on 15 June 2018 in the streets of the city centre of Palermo. The documentation and the video of the procession are on view at Palazzo Costantino.