Following a successful run in 2023 and 2024, Afrique en Cirque returns to Assembly Festival this Edinburgh Fringe. Created by multi-disciplinary artist Yamoussa Bangoura and presented by Cirque Kalabanté, this is a vibrant celebration of daily life in Guinea.Sharing the beauty and artistry of West African culture, the show proudly demonstrates African talent, music and circus. With a heart that reflects the international experiences of African diaspora, audiences can expect charisma, fun and energy in abundance.
Afrique en Cirque is a dazzling hour of gravity-defying circus and supremely talented performers. At first, not much is given away, with an almost mystical atmosphere as the performers enter the stage which is set as a peaceful fishing village. Then dawn breaks; they launch into spectacular acrobatics and it’s non-stop from there. Just when we think we’ve seen everything, we’re wowed yet again.
From acrobatics to drumming, from juggling to singing to human pyramids, the multi-skilled performers keep us on our toes. Eye-watering contortion draws astonished gasps and exclamations from our audience, and leaves one questioning physical possibilities as the acrobat quite literally folds themselves in half in toe-curling feats.
The authentic joy and connection between the performers is palpable, and spreads infectiously into the audience. Whilst there’s a playful feel throughout, that’s not to diminish the quality and difficulty of what’s being attempted here. At this level, there’s always a risk of things going wrong, and when on occasion a juggling pin was dropped it was smoothly recovered by a laugh, a joke and some light-hearted blaming of an innocent audience member.
The authentic costumes, musical instruments and set design further contribute to the atmosphere. A little bit of gentle audience interaction is nothing too intimidating and all done in good spirits.
This crowd-pleasing, feel-good variety show seems to pack so much into just one hour. Afrique en Cirque is a mesmerising mix of storytelling, music and circus that’s sure to have something for everyone.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
