Joy Boy: A Tribute to Julius Eastman

An homage to Julius Eastman (1940–1980), African American pianist, composer, homosexual – legendary for his voice, his stage presence, and who died in poverty. In 1979, he wrote „Evil Nigger“ and „Gay Guerrilla“ for piano quartet. JOY BOY is a concert performance alternating between his music and archival recordings – visualised by a trans-national, six-headed collective in four chapters. Music and images autonomous. The compositions show his skill, the texts his attitude. Inflamed by colonial and life history, raw, radical and crystal clear, he downright hurls the words out (including the N word – beyond all possible, necessary trigger warnings), spews them out, becomes thoughtful, quiet. Coming from a wide spectrum of theoretical and artistic practices – film, performance, dance; textile, archive, research – the directors partake in a complex collaboration, independent and collective, in solidarity with Eastman and each other. A film that packs a political punch and is beautiful to boot, especially the contact of bodies, colours and rhythms or the choreography of the Gay Guerrilla along the highway, taking up space, threatening, vulnerable, strong. (Christiane Büchner)

Mawena Yehouessi is a curator, researcher and artist. Inspired by Afrofuturism and Black studies, she co-founded the collective Black(s) to the Future (2015) and loves to work in teams. Currently finishing their PhD on collage at the Villa Arson and Université Côte d’Azur, their practice takes multiple forms: from producing exhibitions to filmmaking, critical writing to spoken poetry, translation and contemporary dance. They have collaborated with Spectre Productions, HEAD – Genève, the Black Portraitures III Conference, and many other people, stories, epistemologies, scales and sites.

Fallon Mayanja is a sound artist, composer and performer whose practice engages voice, electronic music and speculative narration. A graduate of the Lisbon School of Fine Arts with a Post-Diploma in Sound Arts and a Master’s degree from INA GRM, Fallon’s practice is rooted in live performance. Their work explores listening as a political and relational practice, where sound, technology and environment operate interconnected mediums of exchange. Alongside their artistic practice, Fallon develops pedagogical projects focused on voice, listening, sonic ritual and electronic improvisation.

Rob Jacobs (he/they) is a filmmaker and organiser who approaches filmmaking as a form of conversation. With Paul Shemisi, Anne Reijniers and Nizar Saleh, he co-founded Collectif Faire-Part, a Belgo-Congolese film ensemble, in which he has primarily worked as an editor. Originally trained in psychology, Rob maintains a strong interest in the intersection of well-being and creative practice. After gaining experience working with high school students on masculinity and non-violent communication, he is now training to become a group therapist and facilitator.

Victoire Karera Kampire (1990) is a Rwandan-Belgian director and sound designer. She holds a Master’s degree in New Media and Society (VUB) and is a graduate of LUCA School of Arts in audio-visual arts. At the heart of her artistic quest is the notion of absence, filling her films – places of hallucinated archives and experimentation at the border of documentary and fiction – with ghostly presences. Working and exploring beyond the single-screen experience, she also creates video pieces for theatre and exhibition spaces. She is a 2024–2025 associated artist at the Beursschouwburg (Brussels).

Paul Shemisi is a Congolese filmmaker, cinematographer and interdisciplinary artist with a practice rooted in documentary storytelling, visual culture, and community engagement. Starting his career as a camera assistant for international film crews in Kinshasa, he then trained at Les Ateliers Action (INSAS). His practice also includes photography and rap music. With Nizar Saleh, he co-founded Kimpavita Film, a production house supporting independent cinema and visual projects in and beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a founding member of Collectif Faire-Part.

Anne Reijniers is a Belgian filmmaker, curator and farmer. In her artistic practice, she investigates collective filmmaking, decolonisation, anti-capitalist gardening, and slow forms of resistance grounded in care. She is a co-founder of the Belgian-Congolese film ensemble Collectif Faire-Part, with whom she develops collaborative film projects rooted in shared histories and political engagement. Alongside her collaborative film work within Collectif Faire-Part, Anne develops film projects that engage with ecological practices.

Directors Mawena Yehouessi, Fallon Mayanja, Rob Jacobs, Victoire Karera Kampire, Paul Shemisi, Anne Reijniers. Music Julius Eastman. Producers Mawena Yehouessi, Fallon Mayanja, Rob Jacobs, Victoire Karera Kampire, Paul Shemisi, Anne Reijniers.

Films

Mawena Yehouessi: 2018: D’HLM à Pikine (short video piece, in collaboration with Jean-Baptiste Joire and Fallon Mayanja). 2021: Sol in the Dark (Berlinale Forum Expanded 2022, co-produced by Olivier Marboeuf). 2024: Ahmaud & Wanda (short video piece). 2026: 2026: Joy Boy: A Tribute to Julius Eastman (co-directed by Collectif Faire-Part, Victoire Karera Kampire and Fallon Mayanja).

Fallon Mayanja: 2026: Joy Boy: A Tribute to Julius Eastman.

Rob Jacobs: 2016: Échangeur (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part). 2019: Faire-part (with Collectif Faire-Part). 2020: In Vele Handen / In Many Hands (with Collectif Faire-Part). 2022: L’Escale (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part). 2023: Speech for a Melting Statue (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part). 2026: What We Said to Brussels Airlines (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part), Joy Boy: A Tribute to Julius Eastman.

Victoire Karera Kampire: 2023: Alberta’s Room (short film). 2024: it’s like a finger pointing away to the moon (video installation, collaboration with Moya Michael). 2026: Joy Boy: A Tribute to Julius Eastman.

Paul Shemisi: 2013: Marché Koweït (short film). 2019: Faire-part (with Collectif Faire-Part). 2020: Bayindo (short film), In Vele Handen / In Many Hands (with Collectif Faire-Part). 2022: L’Escale (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part). 2023: Speech for a Melting Statue (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part). 2025: Bandeko Basi (co-directed by Bie Michels). 2026: What We Said to Brussels Airlines (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part), Joy Boy: A Tribute to Julius Eastman.

Anne Reijniers: 2016: Échangeur (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part). 2019: Faire-part (with Collectif Faire-Part). 2020: In Vele Handen / In Many Hands (with Collectif Faire-Part). 2022: Gesamthof / A Lesbian Garden (short film, co-directed by Eline de Clercq, Laetitia Bica and Clara Thomine). 2023: L’Escale (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part), Speech for a Melting Statue (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part). 2026: What We Said to Brussels Airlines (short film, with Collectif Faire-Part), Joy Boy: A Tribute to Julius Eastman.