Prince Théogѐne Niwenshuti is a PhD student student at the University of Cape Town (UCT). He received a BA (with distinction) from National University of Rwanda (NUR) and MA (cum laude) from Wits University School of Arts in Johannesburg. He travels extensively facilitating, lecturing, performing and campaigning for peace, healing, human rights, awareness and prevention of war and genocide.
For about 25 years he has lived, studied, worked and conducted research in several post-conflict zones on the African continent. He has intervened in several academic and nonacademic events on a global level including the International Culture Summit held at the Scottish Parliament in 2018 in Edinburgh (as speaker, facilitator and performer), the 2nd Conference on Memory Studies in 2018 in Copenhagen (as special performance-presenter), the International Leadership Summit at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein in 2018 (as keynote speaker and cohort mentor), Conflict Resolution, Arts and Health Research seminars in 2016 and 2017 in Dublin (as keynote speaker, performer and facilitator), the Youth Voices Conference at the Constitutional Court of South Africa in Johannesburg in 2017 (as keynote speaker and facilitator). Théogѐne NIWENSHUTI was among artists selected for a funded creative residence at the William Kentridge’s Center for the Less Good Idea in 2018. He has received several other awards, prestige scholarships, medals and honors from a number of African and international institutions for his community, artistic and academic contributions.
Some of his publications:
Niwenshuti,T. 2018, A Critique of Embodiment, Strategic Review for Southern Africa, Vol 40, No 1.
Niwenshuti, T. 2014, Journey to Healing: The Poetics of Body Space and Memory in Translation. A Case Study of Re/naissance & Witness, an Autoethnographic Physical Theatre Performance, Wits University, Johannesburg
Niwenshuti, T. 2013, Dance as a communication tool to address intergenerational trauma for a healthier psychosocial environment in Rwanda and the Great Lakes of Africa. In Hazel Barnes (ed), Arts Activism, Education and Therapies. Transforming Communities across Africa, pp. 29-37, RODOPI
Niwenshuti, T. 2012, Bringing colour into life again, In Lien Heidenreich-Seleme and Sean O’Toole (eds.),Über(W)unden: Art in Troubled Times, pp.70-79, Jacana Media, Auckland Park, South Africa.
Award Information
This research aims to investigate memories and daily experiences that visitors and staff mobilise to interpret "Contested Spaces" exhibition at William Humphreys Art Gallery (and Museum) in Kimberley. I hope to find out strategies and mechanisms visitors and staff use to make meaning and journey through possible impact violent histories might have inflicted on the personal and collective life and psyche. For about 70 years since it opened its doors in this "City of Diamonds", no single research has ever been conducted on this museum, its collection or on its connection with life in the city and the broader society within and beyond South African borders. I hope to make a contribution through a detailed ethnographic description and creative performance engagements. Moreover, a comparative analysis with other sites of violence in East Africa will provide opportunities to generate more knowledge in terms of memory, genocide and peace studies.
