Circus Abyssinia
How circus is positively changing young people’s lives in Ethiopia
Left: Mehari “Bibi” Tesfamariam, Juggler, Producer of Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams.
Right: Binyam “Bichu” Tesfamariam, Juggler, Director of Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams.
“We always dreamt about being performers. We didn’t know how, until we stumbled on our teacher juggling three oranges. We asked him how he did it, he showed us a couple of tricks, and that’s how it started. Since then, we’ve been dreaming of joining the circus, to run away with the circus, and having our own circus one day,” says Bichu.
Today, this dream has come true. Circus Abyssinia, which was formed two years ago by brothers Bibi and Bichu, has been performing their show Ethiopian Dreams as part of their tour, at the New Victory Theatre in New York City, throughout December of 2018. Circus Abyssinia is the only circus formed by Ethiopians to be currently touring internationally.
Bibi and Bichu were born and raised in Jimma, Ethiopia; and started juggling at the ages of thirteen and fourteen. However, their parents wanted them to pursue it as a hobby. “For some reason we knew we wanted to keep going, we kept pushing. We started doing shows in Ethiopia, then doing tours. After a few years, we moved to London,” says Bibi.
Bibi and Bichu performing.
That is where they met Sean Gandini, a world renowned juggler. They worked for his juggling company for a few years followed by the Giffords Circus, a traditional English circus, for ten years. They have now established themselves among the world’s leading jugglers.
“During that time, we were thinking about creating Circus Abyssinia, we didn’t know when to start, the right moment came about two years ago,” says Bibi.
Bibi mentoring Alemayehu during rehearsal.
Circus Abyssinia is comprised of a talented group of six girls and eight boys who are contortionists, jugglers and acrobats (using hand voltage and the Chinese pole), as well as a clown, an aerial dancer, and a hula-hoop artist.
Bibi and Bichu directing the cast during rehearsal.
In 2001, while visiting family in Addis Ababa, Bichu met with a teacher at Circus Wingate, a school which was at risk of shutting down due to a lack of funds. Bibi and Bichu then decided to help by sending old circus props, and circus professionals from London to offer workshops at the school. This is how they met the kids who are now part of Circus Abyssinia. Bibi and Bichu named their show Ethiopian dreams once they realized that these young people had the same childhood dream as theirs.
Bibi and Bichu juggling with Ezra (playing ‘Little Bibi’) and Alemayehu (playing ‘Little Bichu’) during the show.
Touring has significantly changed the young people’s lives as it has enabled them to contribute to their families’ income. “They’re inspiring other kids to become artists, to support their families and have their own future,” says Bibi.
However, circus is still not widely recognized as soccer or running in Ethiopia. Bibi and Bichu wish to change this perspective with their work. They believe that young people should not only be encouraged to become teachers or engineers, but should also feel free to pursue their dreams and become professional performing artists.
Despite this lack of recognition, several circus artists are currently emerging from Ethiopia and touring in foreign circuses around the world. “For example, there is an African circus called Mother Africa, and 90% of the artists are from Ethiopia. That actually shows how successful circus is, especially in Ethiopia, and how much we’re actually pushing the circus culture in Africa,” says Bichu.
Bibi and Bichu standing in front of the Chinese poles.
“When we were very young kids, we used to go to a place in Jimma called Boye, it’s a dam. We used to get up quite early, at 5 o'clock in the morning and walk 5 kms to get tall grasses, cut them and carry them all the way to our training center. That actually used to be our mat. That’s what the Chinese poles represent in the show. We used to sing as well on the way to Boye. In the show, there is singing and a lot of interaction with the boys while we’re installing the Chinese poles.”
Bibi and Bichu aim to continue to grow their work globally, and to represent Ethiopian culture while giving it a contemporary twist.
Betty
Betelehem “Betty” Dejene during rehearsal, 20 years old, Contortionist.
At the age of nine, Betty’s initial plan was to study Karate (Japanese martial art). But on her way home from a class, she got spotted by an instructor from Circus Wingate who convinced her and her mother to give circus a try. “At first, I didn’t like it very much,” she says, “but when I saw kids twirling in the air and doing all sorts of acrobatics, I started to like it…Now, I love it and I’m very happy.”
“My life revolves around the circus,” she adds, “and it has changed my life in many ways. It has enabled me to visit several countries, to meet people who are masters at their craft and who have a lot to teach about life. The circus has also allowed me to become financially independent. I still live with my family in Ethiopia, and I have been able to contribute to our income, which pleases them.”
Betty (right) warming up with the girls before a show.
“I started performing with the girls five years ago, and we haven't separated since. We spend most of our free time together. We are very close. We are more than friends, we are like sisters.”
“Being a contortionist is not that difficult, but sometimes we might feel some soreness. Contortion entails a lot of bending, and mostly consists of back work. For that, we warm up and stretch two hours before each show. This lessens the soreness. We also dress warmly while stretching. We practice six times a week, for four to five hours.”
Betty (middle) performing alongside Helen, Semeret and Etsegenet.
“When I first started, it was more challenging for girls to join the circus. People in my neighborhood used to reproach me for doing circus as a girl. It has become a little better now since there are more circus performances being aired on television. People are beginning to admire it. But girls are still not as free as the boys to join the circus.”
“There are about seven circus schools in Addis Ababa. However, I don’t think that this is enough. Unlike here, circus is not very developed in Ethiopia. I want circus in Ethiopia to be as big as it is here, with enough resources. I want to see a change. Yet, despite all of this, many talented young circus artists are emerging from Ethiopia.”
Betty stretching during the intercession of a show.
“Since we started touring, Bibi and Bichu have taught us everything about stage performance. They are close to us like a family. They correct us when we’re wrong, they play with us…The whole circus is like a family.”
Betty performing cloth-spinning with the girls.
“Performing makes me feel proud. I feel happy when the audience embraces me with their smiles and applause. It is my life, I have put everything into this. Doing what you love makes you happy.”
“I never want to stop being a circus artist. It’s inevitable that I will have to stop at some point, but I would like to stay in this discipline. I would like to have my own circus in the future, like Bibi and Bichu.”
Daniel
Like Betty, Daniel used to practice martial arts before fully dedicating himself to the circus. He enjoys the variety of options that circus has to offer, training in different art forms, and growing his skills everyday. “Circus has no limits. It’s a beautiful art form,” he says.
Daniel Gezahagn during rehearsal, 27 years old, Acrobat.
Daniel trains four times a week, and helps mentor the younger kids at Circus Wingate three days a week.
“We do not have a lack of teachers but a lack of materials for gymnastics. Although these gaps exist, we sometimes have to be creative and make our own safety materials with modification,” he says.
He wishes people to be conscious of the potential of circus in Ethiopia. “The perspective is already changing a little, and I am optimistic that it will change more,” he adds.
“My dream is to open a good circus school in Ethiopia.”
The Cast
Alemayehu Mulugeta- Juggler, Acrobat; Ezra Negusse- Juggler, Acrobat; Semeret Getachew- Contortionist; Helen Shimeles- Contortionist; Etsegenet Ashenafi- Contortionist; Misganaw Mitku- Acrobat; Befekadu Esmael- Acrobat.
Yabsera Alebachew (10 years old, Acrobat) is the youngest cast member. He has appeared on Season 3 of Little Big Shots Starring Steve Harvey with Sisay Abebe.
Sisay Abebe, Acrobat.
Summer Lacy, Aerial Dancer.
Kidane Mitku- Acrobat, Zenebech Kassa- Hula-hoop Artist, Abraham Mola- Acrobat.
- Circus Abyssinia is an example that the creative arts can positively change the lives of young people in Ethiopia. -
To learn more about the circus, visit: www.bibiandbichu.com
Written and Photographed by Menen Hailu, © Menen Pictures, 2019.