“The Black Circus of the Republic of Bantu” from South Africa is by Albert Ibokwe Khoza (creator and performer) and Princess Zinzi Mhlongo (producer and director.) Performances will run January 18 – 21, 2024, in the Ellyn Bye Studio at The Armory (128 Northwest 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209.)
This January, Boom Arts, will bring the South African performance The Black Circus of the Republic of Bantu to Portland following its run at the Under Radar Festival in New York. This immersive interactive solo performance was created by 2023 Bessie Award-winning South African artist Albert Ibokwe Khoza, in collaboration with African Entertainers.
The performance sheds light on the violent and shameful history of ethnological expositions, which were once widespread in Western society. Through this powerful performance, Khoza pays witness to the ongoing pain caused by historical and persistent racism, while also engaging in collective healing and the reclamation of dignity. The Black Circus wields theater as a weapon and a salve, turning its gaze outward in service of healing the soul and reclaiming dignity through the power of confrontational art.
“We pay tribute to the spirit of Sarah Baartman and the many Africans whose lives and bodies were turned into a spectacle for white supremacist pleasure. We pay homage to our ancestors who gave up everything for the benefit of the world at large,” says Albert Ibokwe Khoza about the inspiration behind the performance.
**Please note that The Black Circus of the Republic of Bantu contains full nudity, amplified sound and shouting, and optional audience participation.
***Photo by Sanele Thusi.
