M’appelle Mohamed Ali

The life of 1960s cultural icon and great world boxing champion Mohamed Ali was influenced early on by political battles against racial segregation. The Théâtre de La Sentinelle is paying homage to him and intensely studying the condition of the Black actor. One of Francophone Africa’s great voices of political theatre, Congolese playwright Dieudonné Niangouna collaborates with co-directors Philippe Racine and Tatiana Zinga Botao to offer this score for an oratorio with nine Montreal actors of African descent.

With Ali, from yesterday to today and from Africa to America, La Sentinelle reflects on the value of our lives, resistance, faith in oneself, the complementarianism of people, community, a fighting spirit, and breaking through limitations. Being African and making it a choice—if one can, carrying the identity proudly as if carrying a flag, accomplishing an act of personal or collective resistance without letting go of the great irony. These Black men are going like this to the fight. They’re summoning a multitude for a shared fight—all with the utmost dignity.