REVIEW: Afrique en Cirque

Yamoussa Bangoura founded Kalabanté Productions in his native Guinea in 2007. Their latest production, Afrique en Cique performed at Southbank’s Queen Elizabeth Hall until Sunday 28^th July. Callling it a circus would be an injustice as it would just be misrepresenting it. What it is, is an experience like no other. A collection of music, acrobatics and a story in which you are submerged in.

The show is only 90 minutes, but in that time, a lot happens that takes you on a journey of discovery and culture in a way unimaginable. The play has a variety of African-jazz and Yamoussa Bangoura himself is seen playing a kora masterfully that transports you from the theatre into the Guinean marketplace.

 The show’s premise is that the people of the marketplace – traders, fishermen, bakers all have a second skillset. They explode into a sequence of flips and somersaults, build human pyramids and change from their street clothes to vibrant and colourful costumes like butterflies. The effects it gives to the audience is that of pure awe. The way the music and the performers blend seamlessly is amazing.

The acrobatics are fantastic, but the standout sequence had to be the one with a giant hoop where the acrobat performs beautifully and gracefully, twisting and turning with ease as if they’ve been doing it since they were born. The second must be the contortionist whose body bends and twists in ways that a normal body simply cannot do. But once done, the performer finishes standing and smiling, as if his body didn’t go through the impossible.

As an acrobatic entertainment, Afrique en Cique is great and enjoyable for everyone. A perfect outing this summer!

Written by Nora Arooj

About Author

SSZee Media

Provider of Quality Entertainment News and Information

See author's posts