Circus Baobab, a social circus from Guinea, has electrified the audience in Marseille with its show, “Yé!”. The 13 young acrobats, who only use their bodies as their props, perform spectacular acrobatics with an urban-influenced soundtrack. The show will be presented in Paris in April.
The director, Yann Ecauvre, explains that the show portrays the strength of the African human being. The marquee, which serves as the stage for the acrobats, is littered with empty and crushed plastic bottles. In the Soussou language, “Yé” means water, and it gives its title to the show. Ecauvre explains that plastic and its derivatives are omnipresent in Africa. He drew inspiration from the daily life of the young acrobats in the troupe he spent a lot of time with in Guinea’s capital, Conakry.
Breaking the usual African circus codes
Ecauvre wanted to break the codes of the usual African circus by creating a show that presents a succession of beautiful, real dramas. The choreographies follow one after another, without any downtime. For Ecauvre, it was essential to go towards reality. The contortionist Amara is shown trapped in the middle of intense car traffic, represented by spectacular acrobatics. The breakdancer displays his virtuosity with his back to a group watching a football match on television. But at regular intervals, he finds himself flat, causing the television to shut down and the supporters to get upset.
A social and solidarity circus
Circus Baobab is a social and solidarity circus with the ambition of offering a future to children who have not had the chance to go to school. It began in Guinea in 1998, with the founder of the Archaos circus, Pierrot Bidon, as one of its driving forces. The company trains about 100 young people in the arts of the circus in Conakry. Kerfalla Bakala Camara, the current director of the company, says that Circus Baobab gave meaning to his life, educated him, and made him grow. He joined the troupe when he was ten years old.
The show ends with the artists addressing the public in soussou before being projected into a net filled with empty bottles. Ecauvre told them to throw away everything that they found wrong with their world. When the acrobats are ejected, they ask, “Where do we go now?” Ecauvre believes that “it always gets up despite everything” thanks to “the brotherhood of the group.” Circus Baobab has changed the image of the circus in Guinea, where it was previously considered a delinquent act. Today, some families even send their children to the company.
