The collaboration between Ugandan artist Robert Ssempijja and Company Christoph Winkler BREILN has been a long-standing and fruitful partnership, marked by a shared commitment to innovative storytelling through movement and art. Afronauts, a groundbreaking dance film, stands as one of their most ambitious joint endeavors, bringing together 120 Ugandan artists in a large scale production that has left a lasting impact on the Ugandan dance and art community. This project not only showcases the power of collaborative creativity but also amplifies African narratives on a global stage, reimagining the continent’s relationship with technology and the future.

At the heart of WE ARE GOING TO MARS lies the extraordinary story of the first African space program, initiated in Zambia in the 1960s by Edward Mukuka Nkoloso. Through the Zambia National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy, Nkoloso aimed to launch an African space program, challenging the dominance of the U.S.-Soviet Space Race. On a remote farm, the self-proclaimed “Afronauts” trained with makeshift equipment, constructing a rocket from sheet metal with the goal of reaching space on October 24, 1964. The mission was to be piloted by 17-year-old Matha Mwambwa, the sole woman in the group, symbolizing the bold inclusion of African women in this visionary endeavor. Dismissed by the international press at the time as a fanciful or absurd venture, the project was rarely seen for what it might have been: a satirical critique of the imperialist posturing of global superpowers, or possibly a covert operation tied to Zambia’s independence movement.

Decades later, the rediscovery of a 1960s training video shifted global perspectives, revealing the Afronauts’ story as a powerful emblem of African self-determination and imagination. Today, the term “Afronauts” embodies a renewed sense of Black confidence and agency, a theme that resonates deeply in Afrofuturist art. Afronauts the dance film draws on this historical moment as a springboard to explore themes of Afro-futurism, technology, and new narratives about Africa’s role in shaping the future. Through movement, the film reimagines the Afronauts’ story as a metaphor for African innovation and resilience, challenging colonial stereotypes and envisioning a future where African voices lead the way in technological and cultural progress.

The scale of this collaboration bringing together 120 Ugandan artists underscored its significance within the local creative community. By involving such a large ensemble, Ssempijja and Company Christoph Winkler created a platform for Ugandan dancers and artists to engage with global narratives while celebrating their own cultural heritage. The project not only fostered artistic growth but also sparked conversations about identity, history, and the possibilities of African futures, leaving a transformative legacy in Uganda’s dance and art scene.

Artist involved| Denis Magezi | Lydia Kasirye Nanozi | Shane Munina | Stuart Etou | Davis Ahimbisibwe | Herbert Jovan Simbwa | Denis Lule | Dance Theatre Uganda | Umar Kareregga | Fausta Nakasujja | Joana Mbabazi | Joan Nakawombe | Shafic Walusimbi | Ian Elijah Ssenkungu | Richard Kasosi | Edward Jjombwe | Salama Natabi | Sosolya Undugu Dance Academy | Intare Performers | Walter Ruva | Moses Mukalazi |  Anna Tracy Aguti | Martha Naggita | Prisca Atite | Noah Bemuka | Bosco Kitabira | Joel Kakande | Godfrey Natuhwera | Julius Musenze | Edison Musanje | Mario William Mayega | Kwizera Gideon | Richard Tamale | Music: HHY & The Kampala Unit & Jonathan Uliel Saldanha| Costume: GC Fashion | Graphic and Web design: Anthony Okiria | Visual artist: Joel Kateeba