Grande Loge - Gowtu Listeningseance

Kaka Yesi, close your eyes and join in this interactive listening ritual, where participants – guided along – walk an auditory path, paying close attention to every detail. In this public séance, under the inspiring guidance of guru David Christelle, (potentially) new tracks from the album Gowtu... by Grande Loge are collectively presented, allowing attendees to provide their input and suggestions for the final selection. Gowtu… is the title of the journey that Grande Loge will undertake over the next four years. Close your eyes, open your ears. Feed the clouds so they may guide you!

Arkiman, mi o ferteri unu wan fosten tori. Un kaka yesi, arki.

I sink to the ground

in a posture as unfamiliar as it is natural; cross-legged

I listen

I taste

I hear

I see

and I feel

About Grande Loge

Grande Loge is an artistic community, reportedly founded in Suriname in 1776 by enslaved people. This community was a cultural blend (moksi) of diverse traditions, including Indo-Afro early hip-hop, pan kung-fu, Suri-futurism, Shinto spirituality, and the Winti culture. The community’s purpose was to support the oppressed Surinamese population through rituals, song, dance, and artistic expression. It provided a means for the “bradas and sistas” to organize and resist oppression, using early forms of hip-hop and pop culture as a form of rebellion.

Grande Loge is not an officially recognized branch of Freemasonry, but rather a free-spirited community that calls itself “liberated masonry.” They operate as a transgressive organization, staying under the radar and focusing on youth, creative development, and philanthropy. The lodge is deeply connected to various cultural influences, fusing Western and non-Western traditions. The organization is led by Grandemang#44°, operating from the Voltzberg in Suriname, and has since expanded with chapters in Rotterdam, New York, and Soweto, forming the “Bronze Quadrilateral.”

In Rotterdam, Grande Loge has evolved into a theater company with a hybrid approach they call “Post-Theatre.” This concept aims to create a new form of theater that resonates with young people, especially those of Surinamese, African, and Caribbean heritage. Post-Theatre represents a theatrical experience that goes beyond traditional theater. The audience is not a passive spectator but an active participant in the experience. Grande Loge’s activities are characterized by stories (tori’s), music (poku’s), and rituals, with a strong focus on audiovisual productions, live sound, and impressive visual elements.

Grande Loge works with the “Saus” (“Sauce”), a symbolic term for the blend of energy, style, and artistic influences that bring their performances to life. The “Saus” consists of music, dance, spoken word, and rich costumes, making their theater accessible to all generations, from Millennials and Gen Z to Boomers. Their goal is to create connection, bring enlightenment, and ignite a sense of life. The audience is taken on a journey where mind and body come together, and creativity is sparked.