Bodø 2024
On February 3rd, 2024, the Berlin-based artist collective phase7, in collaboration with Nordland Theatre, staged the official opening of the European Capital of Culture Bodø 2024.
In “Like a boat in the fine wind” phase7 embarks on a fantastic journey. No matter what the weather will be like on opening day: this production will take place! Nature gives us the power to live – here it is channeled into a mesmerizing opening ceremony. The harbor of Bodø serves as the main stage for the Opening Ceremony of the European Capital of Culture 2024
Mitt (og ditt?) samiske opphav | 14 February 2024
Debatten etterpå er i ferd med å gjøre åpningsshowet til en suksess likevel | 08 February 2024
Debatten raser etter kulturbyfest – ordføreren måtte be folk om å skjerpe seg | 06 February 2024
Åpningsshowet til Bodø 2024 får Rallkattlia til å framstå som et modernistisk fyrtårn | 05 February 2024
Samisk knyttneve | 04 February 2024
Hva er egentlig passelig mye samisk? | 05 February 2023
Hans Petter Bjørnådal/Barkitekt | 03 February 2023
Creative Director: Sven Sören Beyer
Co-Producer & Co-Director: Birgitte Strid
Dramaturgy / Author: Christiane Neudecker
Head of choreography / North-Norwegian & Sámi Cultural Advisor: Ada Einmo Jürgensen
Architecture / Stage Design: Hans-Petter Bjørnådal
Curator and Fine Arts: Ina Otzko
Dancers: Graduates from Bodø Videregående Danselinja, Norway
Costumes: Pedro Richter, Phase7
Composer: Raymond Enoksen, Norway
Mitt (og ditt?) samiske opphav
The circular shape was repeated as a common thread during the opening show for Bodø Capital of Culture 2024. From the whirls in the Saltstraumen (maelstrom), the costumes of the dancers, the annual rings in the trees that were talked about, the small fishingboats that sailed in circles around the stage and also the puppetry-cods. Symbols of the cycle of life. It was infinitely beautiful and contained life itself. A work of art. But one must have an open mind to see it. Just as you have to have to experience a painting, a composition, a text, etc. So you can be affected by what you experience in many different ways. The worst is indifference.
Debatten raser etter kulturbyfest – ordføreren måtte be folk om å skjerpe seg
“This is Sami land” was the message from Sami artist and activist Ella Marie when she entered the stage during the opening show for Bodø 2024. Now things are boiling in Bodø.
Samisk knyttneve
Many reacted to what they experienced as Sami dominance on stage during the opening show. Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen sang her brand new “Mu Váibmu”/My Heart. Did the opening of Bodø2024 function best as an opening of Sami cultural week and as a prelude to the Sami’s national day more than as a grand start to an eleven-month cultural festival for the whole of Bodø and Nordland?
Hva er egentlig passelig mye samisk?
Too much Sami. Several people slaughter the opening show for Bodø2024 because it was “too much Sami” That tells me we have not come even near to far enough. What is really quite enough Sami? Is it putting our heads out on February 6, (our national day) being shown off at state visits and otherwise keeping quiet? I’m quite frankly sick and tired of hearing that something is too much Sami. Sami artists performing on the spectacular stage in the harbor basins is not too much. We Sami are not too much. (…)
Debatten raser better kulturbyfest – ordføreren måtte be folk om å skjerpe seg
It is permissible to agree or disagree. Art must create engagement and debate. What is not acceptable are derogatory statements about the Sami that are expressed on social media and comment fields. I am also aware that Sami people have been subjected to incitement. This is not good, and I strongly distance myself from that.
POSITIVE REACTIONS TO THE OPENING SHOW
It was a fantastic opening performance, with lots of singing, playing and dancing by young people from Bodø and Nordland in beautiful and imaginative costumes. Well choreographed and brilliantly executed.
It was so beautiful that I was completely moved. It went straight to my soul when the big fishing boat with all people came in. The Sami was presented in a wonderful way, even the very simple things that represent our culture; the cod, the Nordlandsbåt (old fishingboat), the fisherman rain hat as well. Here it is not a big celebrity who will sing, here there is a story to be told.
It was very fantastic when the fish came in, and the fireworks were absolutely insane! The dancers with the Sami costumes were also very cool. I think it was very nice that we in Nordland get to show who we are.
I was very pleasantly surprised that it was easy for us non-Norwegians to follow along. It was good work. The traditional elements played very well together.
What was your favorite part of the show, apart from your sister’s dance? The fireworks, They were impressive. I also liked very much the start with the reindeer horns.
THE DEBATE RAGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER THE OPENING SHOW
Too much Sami. Several people slaughter the opening show for Bodø2024 because it was “too much Sami
It is permissible to agree or disagree. Art must create engagement and debate. What is not acceptable are derogatory statements about the Sami that are expressed on social media and comments in newspapers. I am also aware that Sami people have been subjected to incitement. This is not good, and I strongly distance myself from that.
Saturday’s opening show marked the start of what will be an amazing cultural year in Bodø and Nordland. But there were probably few who could have predicted what the comments in social media would look like in the wake of the opening ceremony. It was a bit too much for people. But you know what?
Several say that Sami culture was give too much space during the ceremony which attracted thousands of audience.
The criticism after the opening ceremony for Bodø 2024 became so fierce that the Bodø mayor had to ask people to calm down
Many therefore mean that the Sami got too much space during the show. Anki Gerhardsen says that it is positive that Sami artists are promoted, but they were unable to create a “we/togetherness”.
– It was us and them, she says
The Sami content caused many Bodo comments to go explode in social media. The stunt also received attention in VG, Aftenposten and several other national media.
“Should Bodø2024 be a narrow political activist year?”
“There were rumors that the show was more about the Sami than the Nordics.”
“I had no idea that Bodø was so strongly rooted in Sami culture, is that right?”
Too much Sami. Several people slaughter the opening show for Bodø2024 because it was “too much Sami” That tells me we have not come even near to far enough. What is really quite enough Sami? Is it putting our heads out on February 6,(our national day) being shown off at state visits and otherwise keeping quiet? I’m quite frankly sick and tired of hearing that something is too much Sami. Sami artists performing on the spectacular stage in the harbor basins is not too much. We Sami are not too much…
POSITIVE REACTIONS TO THE HATRED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
“I was very pleasantly surprised that it was easy for us non-Norwegians to follow along. It was good work. The traditional elements played very well together…”
“It’s absolutely insane to see grown up people trying to dismiss Sámi culture in this way. It was fantastic to see the sami in the show, and it was good to see some more culture from them! I had goosebumps just looking at them, they were good…”