Yasuke

Yasuke, the new dance production by Cape Town company, Baba Yaya, explores the journey of Yasuke, famously known as the African Samurai. A powerful and iconic story of cultural hybridity, transformation, identity and resilience, the subject matter offers a rich palate for exploration, and unique compositional challenges.

Using Ableton Live, the sondtrack was developed from sampled sounds and instruments, crafted into generative and responsive musical architecture. The aim was to create a fluid shifting between African and Japanese worlds, between modern and ancient, while leaving space for tension and release, intensity and respite. Every sound is specifically chosen and conceptually or culturally relevant to the score.

Chapter 1 explores Yasuke’s tribal African origins and his capture by slave traders.
Chapter 2 sees his transition by ship through Asia and to Japan.

The final production is 8 chapters long.