The Power of Circus Arts: A Message of Success and Resilience

About the Show “Yé”

The show “Yé” by the Guinean company Circus Baobab has been sold out at the Scala Provence theater since the start of the Avignon Festival.

Thirteen young artists from Conakry deliver a powerful message: Success is attainable even with limited resources.

A Journey of Social Inclusion

Mamadouba Youla, acrobat-dancer, explains: “We use the circus arts as a tool for social inclusion. In Conakry, we had no support for safety mats, so we trained by the sea or sometimes on the street. That’s where I met my friends who are here today.

Impressive Performances

The impressive physical performances of these talented circus artists include dizzying human pyramids, hand-to-hand combat and breathtaking contortions.

Only two women perform in this troupe. Aïcha Keita took up the challenge out of a passion for dance and acrobatics.

“I learned this art in Guinea thanks to my uncle, my mother’s brother, who started out in this profession. He taught me and my sister everything. My cousin and I are the only women in the group. It’s not easy every day with the men,” she said.

The Theme of Water

The skit is titled “Yé”, which means water in the Sousou language. Performing with plastic water bottles strewn on the stage, these Guinean artists illustrate the tensions linked to the lack of water, while raising awareness on a number of issues.

The artists take turns addressing the audience in Sousou before being projected into a net filled with empty bottles.

“The young people said, we’d like to talk about water, because Guinea is the water tower of West Africa, but where we live, there’s no water or it’s intermittent, so we’re obliged to have water bottles and so on. We also wanted to tackle issues of corruption, lack of electricity and violence against women. All these issues came from the artists,” said Richard Djoudi, the producer of the show.

Circus Baobab’s Message

In response to environmental and societal challenges, Circus Baobab transmits explosive energy to audiences through circus, offering a stunning African artistic experience.

Conclusion

The show “Yé” is a powerful testament to the transformative power of circus arts, and a celebration of the resilience and creativity of the Guinean artists who perform it.

FAQs

Q: What is the show “Yé” about?

A: The show “Yé” is a circus performance that explores themes of water, social inclusion, and resilience, while featuring impressive physical performances and stunning African artistic expressions.

Q: Who are the artists behind the show?

A: The show is performed by 13 young artists from Conakry, Guinea, who use circus arts as a tool for social inclusion and to raise awareness about various social and environmental issues.

Q: What is the theme of water in the show?

A: The theme of water in the show “Yé” highlights the tensions linked to the lack of water, a pressing issue in Guinea, while also raising awareness about other social and environmental issues.