AFRIQUE EN CIRQUE
QE Hall, Southbank Centre
24 – 28 July 2024
“Inspired by daily life in Guinea, the multi-sensory circus and acrobatic show Afrique en Cirque comes to Southbank Centre to share the beauty, youth, and artistry of African culture. A handful of daring acrobats, accompanied by their musicians, perform gravity defying moves to the pulsating rhythm of the djembes of Guinea with their authentic choreography and acrobatics that represent the coming and goings of local Guineans and daily life. With the melodious sound of the Kora, Cirque Kalabanté transports the audience to a place where the diversity of traditional African arts is illuminated and combined with the virtuosity of a modern North American Circus performance. Symbolising the strength, agility and joy of contemporary African youth culture, Afrique en Cirque puts powerful storytelling at the heart of the circus.”
Review by Richard Lambert, 3 Stars
A slow start to the show with a procession across the stage, followed by an announcement delivered by one of the performers “welcome to Cirque en Afrique” set a slow tone for the evening.
A small troupe of artists and musicians multi-role and offer a flavour of African culture. The musicality was quite lovely and there were many costume changes – all multi-coloured and vibrant.
The musicians underneath tents towards the rear of the set with a central tymphany set in the middle. There appears to be 2 x flying baskets downstage but they were decorative and not used for any aerial acts.
They have balance pyramid acts, a cyr wheel, and juggling, although the juggling was very butter-fingered on the night I watched. There was also a lot of contortion which went on forever and peppered throughout the show. Way too much contortion for my taste.
The circus acts are fairly standard but what makes the show enjoyable is the combination of the acts, the music, the costumes and the charisma of the performers. They seem to enjoy performing and the audience also went with it. A final dance with the audience standing and bopping finished the show.
Cirque Kalabanté was created in 2007 by Yamoussa Bangoura, a multidisciplinary artist of Guinean origin who has always dreamed of founding a circus school and having his own multidisciplinary company in African arts. Installed in Montreal for several years, Yamoussa Bangoura, artistic director of the company, also transmits and shares his values and his passion thanks to the teaching of the various artistic disciplines which he masters in circus arts, African dance and traditional music of West Africa. Kalabanté meaning “go-getter, ambitious child, with exceptional courage” in the Sousou language, pursues a double mission: the promotion of African artistic cultures and the realization of humanitarian projects, cultural exchanges, between Canada and Guinea. Kalabanté Productions specialize in events such as shows, workshops and conferences around the world. The non-profit organization welcomes and supports all amateur Canadian talent, as well as visible minorities, wishing to increase their knowledge and improve their training to a higher level.
Running Time: 90 mins (no interval) | Suitable for ages 8+
Company information
Choreographer Yamoussa Bangoura
Set designer Yamoussa Bangoura
Lighting designer Stephane Menigot
Sound designer Marc Laliberté
Cast
Mama Adama Soumah, M’mahawa Soumah, Kevin T Jones, Alya Sylla, Ismael Bangoura, Mohamed Ben Sylla, Yamoussa Soumah, Seuss Fu-Rubin, Abdelhak Benmedjebari, Yamoussa Bangoura