Ogutu Muraya is a writer, storyteller and theatre maker. He presented his graduation piece Fractured Memory at Bâtard Festival last year. This year he will perform the première of Because I always feel like running at Bâtard Festival.
In Because I always feel like running, Ogutu Muraya navigates the phenomenon and
politics of running. In East Africa, the emergence of athletic prowess in middle and long distance
categories coincided with the independence movements. Since the 60s the success of athletes became tied with the process of nation building and the creation of a new identity in a postcolonial context. The performance weaves historical, documentary and personal narratives in a study of endurance running.
In the same way as a marathon runner is always pushing his limits and enhancing his body, the performance also centres on willpower and physical tenacity. The project comes from a desire to navigate the political sphere by shifting attention from intellectual inquiry to the knowledge systems of the body. Focusing on the stories of three athletes - Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia, Kipchoge Keino of Kenya and John Steven Akhwari of Tanzania, the performance investigates the runners body both as a political repository and a vulnerable, vital and resilient biological organism.
Composition and performance: Ogutu Muraya
Dramaturge & directorial assistance: Leila Anderson
Developed with support from Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek, Bâtard Festival & Veem House for Performance. Thanks to KVS, Campo and Vooruit.
