LONDON GRILLING: Yamoussa Bangoura, Multidisciplinary Artist & Founder of Afrique en Cirque
We’re excited to bring you our latest London Grilling with the amazing Yamoussa Bangoura! As the creative mastermind behind Afrique en Cirque, Yamoussa blends acrobatics, music and Guinean culture into unforgettable performances. In our chat, he shares his journey, the inspirations behind his work, and what you can look forward to at his upcoming show at the Southbank Centre this summer.
Yamoussa, can you share with us your journey from training with Circus Baobab in Guinea to founding Kalabanté Productions?
Training with Circus Baobab was the beginning of a dream for me. My dream was to become an acrobat and travel the world, representing Guinea. But as I traveled and worked with various circuses globally, I felt something was missing. I wanted to create something special that would remind me of my country and share the colours of Guinea with the audience. I wanted people to know where Guinea is and showcase the richness of African culture.
What inspired you to create "Afrique en Cirque," and what do you hope audiences will take away from this performance at Southbank Centre?
What inspired me to create "Afrique en Cirque"? I was always on the big stage, but something was missing—like percussions, the beating heart, the energy of the drum. I wanted to really take people to Africa, so I said I need to create something different. That’s how the name "Afrique en Cirque" came about. It's a circus, but in African ways. I think people will feel the music, the beauty of the decor, and they will see Africa in front of them! They will feel the music and the energy through their body. I think they will leave Southbank Centre with a lot of good memories.
How did your experience with Cirque Éloize and Cavalia shape your approach to creating your own shows?
Working with Cirque Éloize and Cavalia just brought me somewhere else. They are both very good companies with a great approach to their audiences, but I wanted to create something completely different. I wanted to combine musicians, acrobats, and dancers, and create music that goes with acrobatic skills to give the audience a unique experience. When you see Cirque Éloize and Cavalia and then come to see "Afrique en Cirque" by Kalabanté, you'll see the difference. All these shows have their own flavour, and working with them helped me find my way.
How does "Afrique en Cirque" celebrate Guinean culture through its acrobatics, music, and choreography?
Afrique en Cirque celebrates Guinean culture by showcasing the beauty of Guinea and West Africa. All the music and choreography, created by me, draws inspiration from daily life. You'll see vibrant activities like a fish market where people sell fish and food, repair boats, juggle, and perform street shows. This show captures the essence of Guinean life, blending acrobatics, music, and daily hustle, providing a true taste of our culture.
Can you describe a particularly memorable moment from your performances around the world?
Particularly memorable moments from all the performances I have done around the world is when you finish the show, and people tell you how good you are and how they felt. It's really powerful. Sometimes you see people crying, really happy—it's very special.
Meeting different people from country to country, different nationalities, is amazing. During the show, I see people very focused and you can tell in their eyes that there's nothing else in the world apart from you in front of them. That's very strong.
You have different feelings in every single show because every show has its own vibe. Playing in the afternoon has a different energy than playing at night, playing for the young, adults, or elders—everything is different. We receive a lot from the audience, and that makes us shine.
How do you balance your time between performing in special events and managing Kalabanté Productions?
You have to be organised. If you're organised, you can do a lot of things. Performing on stage and managing isn't easy, but I have people helping to bring Kalabanté higher and higher. I organise my time and get ready for events, and also manage Kalabanté. I have training hours that I have to respect. It's all about organising. When you love what you do, managing it isn’t that difficult because you make it a priority.
What advice would you give to aspiring multidisciplinary artists who want to follow in your footsteps?
Advice I can give to every multidisciplinary artist is to embrace the circus. The circus is wonderful because it includes everything; you can be skinny, tall, or small, and still have your space within it. Love what you do and don't count the hours because you need to put in many hours to be good. As an acrobat, juggler, or singer, I dedicated hours because I love it. Take things to heart, believe in yourself, and take time without counting the hours. This is my message for multidisciplinary artists.
Looking ahead, what are your future goals and dreams for Kalabanté Productions and the African circus arts community?
My dream and future goals for Kalabanté are to see different creations of shows and to be a part of all Kalabanté productions. I love the creation process and all the beauty that comes with it. You have fun times, hard times, and moments where you connect deeply with everyone involved. I want to see multiple Kalabanté shows with different creations.
For the African circus arts community, I want us to collaborate with artists from all over the world, including English acrobats, musicians, and dancers. Building cultural bridges is something I love. I enjoy bringing foreign artists to Guinea to share stories, food, and skills. This is something we did with the Inuit circus of Canada—they came to Guinea, and we went to them. I want to travel the world and do more cultural exchanges. My goal is for Kalabanté shows to be everywhere in the world.
How does performing in a vibrant city like London impact your shows, and what do you enjoy most about bringing your art to this city?
Performing in London, wow, it’s a big impact for Kalabanté and a dream come true! London, like New York, Sydney, Paris, and California, has always been a dream destination for me. Performing here means people will feel our show and remember it forever. I was in London before, performing at the Barbican Theatre, and now bringing my own company back here is huge. It means a lot to us and will help us expand. We can’t wait to perform in London and all over England.
Are there any particular locations or experiences in London that you enjoy visiting during your stays?
Yes, I want to see Big Ben again and Tower Bridge. I love big cities, and I can’t wait to be there.
Final words?
I can’t wait to see how London will react to my show. Everywhere we go, we’ve had standing ovations for the past three years. We’re booked for 10 months now, which is huge for me. I can’t wait to share this show and show you what African culture looks like.
Thank you.
Cirque Kalabanté presents:
Afrique en Cirque
Choreographed by Yamoussa Bangoura
Southbank Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hall,
24 – 28 July
Weds – Sun 19:30,
Thurs, Sat, Sun 14:30
£35.00 – £20.00 www.southbankcentre.co.uk
020 3879 9555