Afrique en Cirque

July 25, 2024

24th – 28th July 2024

Artistic Director Yamoussa Bangoura brings his multidisciplinary company Cirque Kalabanté to London for the first time, performing between 24th – 28th July at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. Kalabanté, meaning “go-getter, ambitious child, with exceptional courage” in Sousou, seeks to promote African artistic cultures and the realisation of humanitarian projects, along with cultural exchanges between Yamoussa’s native Guinea, and Canada where he spent several years. Yamoussa seeks to share his values and passion in various artistic disciplines including circus arts, African dance and traditional West African music. In addition to Kalabanté’s shows, they also run workshops and conferences globally, supporting and welcoming Canadian talent, as well as visible minorities to increase their knowledge and take their training to a higher level. Afrique en Cirque is inspired by daily life in Guinea, and the comings and goings of local Guineans.

“The performance from start to finish was exhilarating, powerful and alive. A masterclass in audience engagement, we were kept enthralled throughout the whole 90 minutes with this impressive showcase of exceptional talent that embodies the African spirit”

The house is full, and excited to see the show. The lighting (designed by Stephane Menigot) dims and the simple but incredibly effective set, designed by Yamoussa as a Guinean village, is awakened by calming sounds of nature (by Sound Designer Marc Laliberté). Yamoussa enters carrying a kora, and introduces the show, explaining it “helps keep the history from generation to generation”. Accompanying Yamoussa this evening are a saxophonist, bassist Abdelhak Benmedjebari, and a drummer, providing the predominantly Afro-jazz soundtrack for the evening.

While Yamoussa stands regally to the rear of the stage — his mesmerising voice and the kora resonating throughout the venue to the sound of the sultry saxophone for the hypnotic introductory music — we are introduced to the acrobatics team: Mohamed Ben Sylla, M’mahawa Soumah, Yamoussa Soumah, Alya Sylla, Abdoul Karim Bangoura and Mama Adama Soumah. Set against a backstory of local Guinean life for each section such as fishing, or day to day domestic tasks, we are treated to an evening of high-energy, upbeat displays of incredible physicality, musicality and skill, including juggling, drumming, tumbling, pyramids, African dance and stunning hoop work by Yamoussa himself.

Contortionist Mohamed Ben Sylla’s set is not for the faint-hearted, and the audience applauded, gasped and squirmed at his super-human display of flexibility.

There is even a tongue-in-cheek treat for the ladies towards the end of the show involving PPE and more muscles than Venice Beach. We’ll leave it there.

The performance from start to finish was exhilarating, powerful and alive. A masterclass in audience engagement, we were kept enthralled throughout the whole 90 minutes with this impressive showcase of exceptional talent that embodies the African spirit.