The project in summary
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The project in detail
Support to the first African Social Circus Festival in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to draw attention to circus arts in Africa and highlight their artistic value and potential impact on social, cultural and economic development. In addition, the project promoted cultural exchanges between African circus associations.
- More than 50 professionals of 8 African social circuses from Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa and 1 group of drummers from Kenya;
- Over 10’000 people in the audience.
In November 2015, Fekat Circus organized the First African Circus Arts Festival. The Festival is one of the nine projects selected by UNESCO over 700 submissions within the framework of the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture (IFPC).
Eight of the most active African circus associations participate in the Festival: Aléa des possibles (Madagascar); Cirque Faso (Burkina Faso); Fekat Circus (Ethiopia); Sarakasi (Kenya); Sencirk (Senegal); Actionarte (South Africa), Debre Brahan (Ethiopia); Circus Zambia (Zambia). Also the Slum Drummers, a group of drummers coming from Nairobi, Kenya, take part to the festival.
Eight of the most active African circus associations participated in the Festival: Aléa des possibles (Madagascar); Cirque Faso (Burkina Faso); Fekat Circus (Ethiopia); Sarakasi (Kenya); Sencirk (Senegal); Actionarte (South Africa); Debre Brahan (Ethiopia), Circus Zambia (Zambia) and Slum Drummers, a group of percussionists from Nairobi (Kenya).
More than fifty young circus artists from all over Africa had the chance to exhibit their talent, express themselves and their rich artistic and cultural patrimony, meet and share artistic and social approaches.
The performing artists are, for the most part, young people coming from marginalized areas who found a job through the arts, thus improving their lives.
The Festival featured three days of shows by each of the nine circus associations followed by two days of workshops where artistic and social methodologies were presented and shared along with future perspectives in the field.
Fekat Circus
Created in 2004 by 12 young Ethiopians who grew up in the streets of Addis Ababa, today this non-profit association of professional artists engages in artistic, sport, circus and acrobatic activities to promote the inclusion of socially disadvantaged minors.
Fondation Alta Mane supported Feat Circus from 2009 to 2011, and in partnership with Fondazione Alta Mane Italia since 2012. For further information regarding the project please check this link.
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