On 20 and 21 May 2026, Watwero Dance Company presented The Legend of the Spear and the Beads at Spazio Teatro No’hma in Milan, Italy, with an accompanying OnLife video projection at Elephant Commons in Gulu, Uganda.
Presented by Spazio Teatro No’hma, the production brought together Acholi traditional dance, singing, folktales, and storytelling within a contemporary theatre framework, while remaining deeply rooted in Luo aesthetics. Through performance, music, and narrative, the work offered audiences an opportunity to engage with the cultural histories and lived experiences of the Acholi, Madi, Alur, and broader Luo communities.
The Legend of the Spear and the Beads explored questions of identity, leadership, royalty, resilience, and community. The production invited audiences to reflect on the past in order to better understand the present, while encouraging conversations around justice, collective responsibility, and social transformation.
Driven by a desire to revisit history and address the legacies of conflict, the work examined how communities remember, heal, and move forward. Its themes resonated with contemporary global challenges, creating space for cross-cultural dialogue, creative thinking, and shared reflection. The production encouraged audiences to acknowledge inherited histories while imagining new possibilities for the future.
The performances in Milan and Gulu connected audiences across continents, demonstrating the power of dance and storytelling as tools for cultural exchange and community building.
The Legend of the Spear and the Beads_ was a Watwero Dance Company production, co-produced by Batalo East.
Choreography: Kedwine Odoch and Martin Ojom
Dramaturgy: Lilian Maxmillian
Performers: Ben Peaks, Janani Luwum, Bi Dhany, Lam Christo, and Kedwine Odoch
Costumes, Props and Stage Design: Otlum Kollection, Kal Okelo the Painter, and Totem MC
Watwero Dance Company extends its gratitude to Spazio Teatro No’hma for hosting the production, Samwel Japhet for his recommendation and support, and Keruwa Media International for its media partnership.
