Dorine Mokha (November 1989 – 8 January 2021) was a Congolese dancer. He was considered to be one of the greatest Congolese contemporary choreographers.[1][2]

Dorine Mokha
BornNovember 1989
Died8 January 2021(2021-01-08) (aged 31)
NationalityCongolese
OccupationDancer

Biography edit

After earning a degree in literature studies from the Collège Saint François de Sales Imara in Lubumbashi, Mokha moved to Kisangani in 2009 and studied dance. He participated in the Danse l'Afrique Danse festival of the Institut Français in Ouagadougou and at the Studio Residencies of the foundation Pro Helvetia in Switzerland.[3]

Mokha graduated from the University of Kisangani in 2013 with a master's degree in economic and social law with a thesis titled "Problématique de la protection de la propriété intellectuelle face aux NTIC en RDC, cas des œuvres musicales".[4] In 2018, he received the Prix Lokumu, which honors distinguished Congolese artists. He dedicated the award "to all the Congolese dancers who fight every day to make a living from and with their dances and whose efforts deserve to be saluted. To all those people who believe in me since my difficult beginnings, to all those who support the artist that I am by respecting the choices of the person that I am".[5]

As a dancer and choreographer, Mokha performed several shows in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as internationally, such as the Berlin Biennale on 24 January 2020 with the performance "Entre deux...".[6][7] He also performed the piece at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid.[8] That year, he received an award from the Young African Leaders Initiative, founded by Barack Obama, in recognition of his work against homophobia.[9] An activist for LGBT rights, he released a four part film denouncing homophobic discrimination in the DRC based on his personal experiences with the issues.[10]

Dorine Mokha died suddenly of malaria on January 8, 2021, in Lubumbashi at the age of 31.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "RDC – Culture : L'un des grands chorégraphes du pays, Dorine Mokha n'est plus". Liberté Plus (in French). 8 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Dorine Mokha, performeur aux mille talents". Le Quotidien de l'Art (in French). 11 January 2021.
  3. ^ "RDC: décès de Dorine Mokha, un activiste LGBTI". Santé Sexuelle (in French). 8 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Dorine Mokha". theatre-contemporain.net (in French).
  5. ^ "" Je dédie ce prix à tous les danseurs Congolais " (Dorine Mokha, Prix Lokumu Danse)". Arts.cd (in French). 15 April 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Nécrologie : La RDC perd Dorine Mokha, l'un de ses grands chorégraphes !". Ciel Bleu (in French). 8 January 2021.
  7. ^ "" Dernière marche : Kinshasa " : le discours ultime de Dorine Mokha". adiac-congo.com (in French). 24 June 2016.
  8. ^ "PORTRAIT DÉTENDU – DORINE MOKHA ET LA DANSE : une histoire de rébellion !". Rue223.com (in French). 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Décès du chorégraphe congolais Dorine Mokha à 31 ans". Le Figaro (in French). 13 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Briser le silence après une agression, pourquoi est-il si important?". Sociétés Inclusives.org (in French). 1 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Décès du chorégraphe congolais Dorine Mokha à 31 ans". CultInfos.com (in French). 13 January 2021.