African arts in "Cirque Mother Africa"

To take journey though Africa you could hop on a plane and near circle the globe or you could pop in the theatre for "Cirque Mother Africa". Staged at the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore recently, the show was a delightful melting pot of traditional African culture and modern circus theatrical acts. More than 40 talented artists from nine African countries transformed the theatre with the visuals and sounds of Africa that exploded with an energy-pumping opening musical performance. As one act after another was unveiled, it gave the feeling as if one was actually watching street performers while walking down the vibrant streets of Africa. One of the highlights was that of Mwangi Lazarus Gitu, a contortionist from Kenya who is dubbed the most flexible man in the world. It was jaw-droppingly mind-boggling to watch Gitu stretch and bent his body at seemingly impossible angles. As minds, and maybe even some bodies in the audience, bent themselves back to the next act, the master of balancing left everyone gasping with collective breaths as he wobbled about on a board placed precariously on top of four rolling cans. If that wasn't enough, the artiste then maneuvered his body through hula hoops while on top of the stack ! But for the crowd-favourite award of the night, it had to go to Yonas and Tariku, the slick foot-juggling pair. Yonas, a pint-sized acrobat, was tossed in the air by the feet of his partner Tariku, and delivered an impressive 50 back flips before the pair descended to the stage and flipped across as the crowd cheered and clapped. Other than the brilliant acrobats, Music by InAfrica, the eight-member band of "Cirque Mother Africa", certainly captured the hearts of the audience as well. Introducing African traditional music instruments such as the Kora, a 21-stringed bridge-harp, and using it together with modern instruments like the keyboard, the band offered surprisingly pleasing fusion music style. It was a circus extravaganza that mesmerized the young and old alike and even after the curtains feel on the two-hour show it was difficult not to remain mesmerized, with the beautiful voices and pulsating drums still playing in the mind.