Circus Baobab

Courageous and uncompromising: in its new programme, the Circus Baobab collective focuses on the resistance of women from Guinea and Africa. Yongoyély is the courageous result of the intensive artistic collaboration between director Yann Ecauvre, Circus Baobab's artistic director Kerfalla Camara and exceptional young artists from Guinea – including acrobats, dancers and singers. Together, the six women in the group transform their personal experiences of social constraints, traditions and violence – from female genital mutilation to self-empowerment - into moving images, texts and powerful body poetry.

The powerful production makes a statement against inequality and mechanisms of oppression while celebrating the unwavering strength, dignity and resilience of women. ‘At a time when the arts are often reduced to mere ‘entertainment’, here is a new project that attempts to combine powerful visual and dramaturgical elements from Africa,’ says Yann Ecauvre. In Yongoyély (‘the circumciser’ in Susu), this succeeds effortlessly: with materials such as concrete bricks, wooden poles and whips, with artistry ranging from aerial acrobatics to balancing acts on the Russian parallel bars, and theatrical, dance and vocal elements, the artists work on an expression of contemporary female empowerment in constant dialogue with tradition: spectacular, touching, groundbreaking.

CAST & CREDITS

Kerfalla Camara artistic direction, Yann Ecauvre, Mehdi Azéma, Julie Delaire & Artist:inside choreography, Yann Ecauvre set design, Yann Ecauvre and Mehdi Azéma music, Solenne Capmas costumes, Kadiatou Camara, Mamadama Camara, Yarie Camara, Sira Conde, Mariama Ciré Soumah, M'Mah Soumah, Djibril Coumbassa, Amara Tambassa, Mohamed Touré performers