Nenijto
A narrated poetic journey into the past of Nenijto, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
A poetic, analog animation journey from the present-day Nenijto sports center in Rotterdam to its colonial past.
In 1928, the same site hosted a Dutch exhibition where people were brought from Senegal to recreate their village,
presented as part of a so-called “human zoo.”
Through this work, we reflect on our shock and emotions,
as we travel back in time to confront this disturbing history.
Originally, the project was shown across two video projections on opposite sides of a room,
creating an immersive and dialogical experience.
I animated most parts of the video and directed the overall animation flow.
All frames were drawn with crayon on paper, then scanned and digitally animated.
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Credits:
Creative direction & Animation: Somar Yahya
Production manager, Animation & Sound Design: Joysi Olijhoek
Historical Research, Animation: Sophie van Velthoven
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The two-projection installation was exhibited at the Willem De Kooning building and was open to the public,
with the support of the Rotterdam City Archive. It could not be presented at the archive's building due to COVID restrictions in early 2021.
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A narrated poetic journey into the past of Nenijto, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
A poetic, analog animation journey from the present-day Nenijto sports center in Rotterdam to its colonial past.
In 1928, the same site hosted a Dutch exhibition where people were brought from Senegal to recreate their village,
presented as part of a so-called “human zoo.”
Through this work, we reflect on our shock and emotions,
as we travel back in time to confront this disturbing history.
Originally, the project was shown across two video projections on opposite sides of a room,
creating an immersive and dialogical experience.
I animated most parts of the video and directed the overall animation flow.
All frames were drawn with crayon on paper, then scanned and digitally animated.
-------
Credits:
Creative direction & Animation: Somar Yahya
Production manager, Animation & Sound Design: Joysi Olijhoek
Historical Research, Animation: Sophie van Velthoven
-------
The two-projection installation was exhibited at the Willem De Kooning building and was open to the public,
with the support of the Rotterdam City Archive. It could not be presented at the archive's building due to COVID restrictions in early 2021.
