This weekend’s performance by Germaine Acogny, Senegalese dancer, at the University of Johannesburg, was a highlight of my January. Admittedly the first month of 2026, has been overwhelmingly about global punches, so highlights were few and far between, but to see the 81 year old perform deceptively simple moves, but using powerful metaphors, left me close to tears.
Her tribute to Josephine Baker, as an overarching narrative spoke to complex moments: the doorway that we will all pass through to another life, another world. Her use of a large Ashanti fertility doll, throughout the performance, was profound. We see Acogny striding through the lit doorway in military uniform, brandishing it like a weapon. (Women as weapon?) Perhaps though, it was the knowledge that I was watching an 81 year old woman, a powerfully muscular body, shaven head, a woman in all her true strength and glory, that left me breathless and in awe. We are constantly told through endless media that we are too old, too grey, too weak, too invisible to make our mark, but Acogny reminds every woman from her position centre stage, that we are the weapon, we are the power and we are the centre. Uplifting. And with an eye on all things female – look out the window tonight, it’s going to be a full Snow Moon.