What has Switzerland got to do with the colourful cotton prints that dominate daily life in Africa?

“WAX TRADERS” tells the story of two daring women on the African west coast, that skillfully navigate global markets in times of political upheaval, resisting against the massive inequalities of the colonial system. They meet two European tradesmen that work for the “Basel Trading Company” and seek their fortune on the “Gold coast”. Together the four characters create a market for the “African Wax Prints” – cotton fabrics with colorful print design, that Swiss and Dutch textile companies develop by copying Indonesian patterns and printing technique. Inspired by traditional storytelling, Eva-Maria Bertschy – with co-author Edwige Dro – and Kojack Kossakamvwe create an extensive ballad about the trade relations between the Swiss textile industry and its customers in West Africa, that has existed since centuries.

“WAX TRADERS” is produced by GROUP50:50 in coproduction with Vorarlberger Landestheater and Kaserne Basel.

In English, French, German, Twi, Baoulé & Lingala with surtitles.