WAX TRADERS

African wax prints | Power music | Women’s power

So-called wax fabrics play an important cultural and economic role in Africa. ‘WAX TRADERS’ tells the story of two courageous women on the west coast of Africa who, in times of political upheaval, skilfully hold their own in global markets, navigate colonial structures and defy great inequalities. They encounter two travelling salesmen who are seeking their fortune on the so-called ‘Gold Coast’ on behalf of the Basel trading company. Together, they create a market for ‘African wax prints’ – colourfully printed cotton fabrics developed by Dutch and Swiss textile companies by copying Indonesian patterns and printing techniques.

In their new musical theatre piece, Eva-Maria Bertschy and Kojack Kossakamvwe work with a transnational ensemble of artists from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Switzerland. Inspired by traditional narrative forms and carried by a chorus of three women, they create a sweeping ballad about the centuries-old trade relations between the Swiss textile industry and its customers in West Africa, thereby recounting a chapter of Swiss colonial history.

Following ‘ECOSYSTEM’, a multimedia music theatre piece about ecosystems spiralling out of control, which was performed at the Theater Casino Zug in 2024, the Swiss-African group Group50:50 returns to Zug with their new documentary music theatre piece ‘WAX TRADERS’. This musical epic takes the audience on a fascinating journey across continents and centuries.

Wed 18 Nov 26 | Post-performance discussion
Thu 19 Nov 26 | 6.15 pm | Themed talk

Duration: approx. 130 mins, no interval
Languages: German, English, French, Two, Baoulé & Lingala with German surtitles