Dzata: The Institute of Technological Consciousness (2023)

Dzata: The Institute of Technological Consciousness (2023) is a creative research project by South African artists Russel Hlongwane, Francois Knoetze and Amy Louise Wilson. In fabricating a fictional institute and its archive, the artists explore and imagine vernacular technological practices operating across the African continent.
more info: lodef.co.za/Dzata
Written and Directed by:
Francois Knoetze, Russel Hlongwane + Amy Louise Wilson
A Lo-Def Film Factory & Substance Point Production
Project Advisors:
Professor Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga
Oulimata Gueye
Cinematographer + Editor: Francois Knoetze
Script Development: Russel Hlongwane, Amy Louise Wilson, Francois Knoetze
Screenplay: Amy Louise Wilson
Sound Designers: Gugulethu Duma (Dumama)
Caydon van Eck (b00n)
Production Design + Costume: Francois Knoetze
Drone Operator: Haroon Gunn-Salie
Collage Art: Duduetsang Lamola (blk banaana), Francois Knoetze, Amy Louise Wilson
Sound engineer and co-producer: Kerim Melik Becker (Kechou)
Percussionists : Fabiano Lima , Aduni Guedes de Oliveira
Cellist: Tsepo Pooe
Violin: Elizabeth Huehuentro
Original compositions by Dumama supported by the Gwaetler Foundation
Assistant Editor: Peacemore Patsika
Additional Graphic Design: Ilze Wessels
Featuring performances by:
Russel Hlongwane
Duduetsang Lamola
Oupa Sibeko
Nolufefe Ntshuntshe
Indalo Stofile
Thulisa Mayalo
Jacques Lukoji
Anesu Alex
Philimon Rukodzi
Ragel Mahera
Peacemore Patsika
Nicole Goto
Gomez Bakwene
Voice-Over + Translation:
Babalwa Zimbini Makwetu
Russel Hlongwane
Elinatta Hazembe (Chichewa)
Workshop Assistant:
Babalwa Zimbini Makwetu
With thanks to:
Mozilla Foundation
Project Playground, Gugulethu
Theatre Arts Admin Collective, Cape Town
Kofi Yeboah
……to those who came before us, and for those have yet to come….
Based on the following books:
Mavhunga (2018) The Mobile Workshop: The Tsetse Fly and African Knowledge Production. MIT Press.
What do Science, Technology and Innovation mean from Africa? (2017) Ed. Mavhunga. MIT Press.
Mavhunga (2014) Transient Workspaces: Technologies of Everyday Innovation in Zimbabwe. MIT Press.
This project was supported by the Mozilla Foundation’s 2022 Creative Media Award