In 22 & 23 November 2024, 40 women of the 2026WOMEN project stood up, sing, acted and told their stories during a fantastic and confrontational show! A show about women’s rights around the world, their daily struggles and the never-ending strength of women.
Driven by their desire to raise awareness and empower girls and women to take action, these women brought multiple testimonies of violence and concerns to the stage. Their cathartic performances are meant to trigger a collective reflection on transforming patriarchal structures, cultures and behaviours!
After a year of gatherings within safe spaces built in Antwerp (Madam Fortuna), Marseille (BecauseUArt) and Rotterdam (Dona Daria), 40 women came together in Antwerp to unite their voices against gender violence. Simawe | See My Way was an artistic tribute to the First Tribunal on Crimes Against Women, held in 1976. The performances took place at Het Oude Badhuis, and are a call for the Second Tribunial on Crimes Against Women, that will take place in 2026.
Photos: Anna Kestens & Kim Karnas
Photos: Anna Kestens & Kim Karnas
DEEP DEMOCRACY WORKSHOP
Alongside the Simawe | See My Way performance, the 2026WOMEN collective also organised the exhibition ‘Silhouettes’, with paintings made by the members of the group. The paintings were exhibited together with collages made by the three groups at Het Oude Badhuis, during the performance days, and at Heilige-Familie-en-Sint-Corneelkerk during the Deep Democracy workshop organised by Beweging.net.
BEHIND THE SCENES 'SIMAWE | SEE MY WAY'
Photos: Anna Kestens & Kim Karnas
BTS Video: Coming soon!
TEASERS FOR 'SIMAWE | SEE MY WAY'
Simawe is a multidisciplinary and participatory performance being written by the socio-artistic collectives based in Antwerp, Marseille and Rotterdam who give body and voice to the 2026WOMEN. This is a diverse and growing intergenerational group of women who come from different social backgrounds, origins, religions.
Through their exchange on topics related to the status and experiences of being a woman, they form a community where they can freely and safely share their stories. Inspired by the Tribunal for Crimes against Women that took place in Brussels in 1976, they are building up their way for a Second edition of the Tribunal in 2026.
In October 2024, they gathered to film the teaser of the show, bringing together the conceptual elements that set the atmosphere for their public performances in November, in Antwerp.
During a participatory evening, in partnership with Safe Space, Rebelle, and Elegast, the women engaged in self-defence movements, songs, and texts.
In a very light and humoured atmosphere at Madam Fortuna, the participants practiced some postures under the guidance of the self-defence coach Leen Nicolas.
The second part of the evening was dedicated to writing. Guided through the process by Valérie Himschoot, the participants wrote and shared poems to be used in the collective creations.
During the recess between the workshops, the participants spontaneously started to sing ‘Lalla Bouya’ and invited the new ones to join.