What makes this poet so sad, pessimistic, sarcastic, angry and unhappy? What is he protesting against?
Between Prime Minister Milton Obote’s speech on Uganda’s independence in 1962 and the current rule of Yoweri Museveni, in office since 1986, stretches the lament and protest song of the young poet Kagayi Ngobi, who handles objects in the multimedia production and yet articulates his angry monologue with ease. In a captivating poem in seven parts, Kagayi Ngobi examines his role as a poet in the public spotlight. For my negativity is a profound and entertaining journey into the decoloniality of a poet.
Written by Ugandan poet and playwright Kagayi Ngobi and directed by Ugandan theater director and former broadcast journalist Kalundi Serumaga, who was banned from his home country for critical reporting, For my negativity “takes a deeper look at how we are products of ‘post’-colonial nation states and fragile democracies”. Sunday Monitor, December 11, 2022
For my negativity was the opening play of the 9th edition of the Kampala International Theatre Festival 2022. The theater text deals with topics such as corruption and bad governance. A week before the festival, the media council in Uganda threatened the organizers of the festival with cancellation of the event and arrests.
“For My Negativity confirms that Uganda does not belong to Ugandans, but to those in power. This explains why the people will continue to say: ‘This country is not ours, Munange'” Sunday Monitor, December 11, 2022
TEXT AND PERFORMANCE Kagayi Ngobi | DIRECTOR Kalundi Serumaga | ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Colman Otunga | STAGE MANAGER Isma Semujju | COSTUME/REQUISITES Katesi Kalange | LIGHTING Illelit Jonathan | LIVE MUSIC Collin Serunjogi, Mudhasi Jaffer