Fara Fara

This screening is the online world premiere of 'Fara Fara'

Included by the late curator Okwui Enwezor in the 2015 Venice Biennale, 'Fara Fara', 2014, is an ode to Congo’s rich musical culture and the legendary ‘father of Congolese rumba,’ Papa Wemba. It is also the first time the work by Carsten Höller & Måns Månsson will be shown online.

The film follows the performative duel, or fara fara (meaning face-to-face in Lingala) between two of the DRC’s biggest stars, Koffi Olomide and Werrason. Papa Wemba announces the face-off to an enormous gathering at two adjacent stages where the superstars and their entourages compete in an epic test of musical endurance and style to see who can win by playing the longest. Realized with acclaimed film director Måns Månsson's, and shot by DoP Hoyte van Hoytema who has since forged a legendary career, Höller’s and Månsson film captures the narrative of the city-wide frenzy and the battle of musical endurance in a characteristically ambiguous and celebratory 13 minute, two-channel installation.

Carsten Höller & Måns Månsson
Fara Fara, 2014
2–channel video installation of digitised 35 mm film and archival VHS material, colour, sound, 13 minutes