"Africa! Afrika!" is an extravagant show with live music, acrobatics and African dances and songs that has been thrilling the whole of Germany since 2005. Spectacular stage sets, authentic and colourful costumes, energetic rhythms and a life-size elephant puppet - the "Afrika! Africa!" tour offers its visitors.
How could an incomparable production like "Africa! Africa!" best described - as a musical or as musical theatre? As a concert with lively circus acrobatics or as a total work of art with various elements of music, dance and artistry? One thing is certain: "Africa! Africa!" is a unique experience and an unforgettable show.
The production, led since 2018 by director and choreographer Georges Momboye, offers a programme far removed from a cliché-laden folklore show. Momboye's concern is to portray the multifaceted arts of the African continent - and to do so with temperament, energy and joie de vivre. This includes authentic dance and song as well as top acrobatic performances.
"Africa! Africa!" - A show in transition
The history of the "Africa! Africa!" show is a very eventful one. The production, directed by the multi-talented André Heller, celebrated its world premiere in Frankfurt am Main in 2005. Under the motto "Continent of Amazement", Heller wants to bring the audience closer to the past and present of Africa and its artists in a mix of musical and acrobatic performance.
The production is becoming one of the most successful European musical shows with over three million spectators. The tour takes around 70 artists from 14 African countries throughout Germany. Between 2005 and 2008, "Afrika! Afrika!" in a travelling tent city, from 2013 onwards the musical will mainly play on theatre and musical stages.
André Heller will hand over the directing reins to his assistant Georges Momboye in 2018. Momboye comes from the Ivory Coast and is one of the world's best dancers and choreographers of African dances.
Under Momboye's direction, "Africa! Africa!" will go on tour for the third time in 2018. This time with a completely revised programme enriched with artists from different African countries.
Experience the continent of wonder live
Highlights of the show are the creative and authentic costumes, as well as powerfully rousing dance and song performances. Other highlights are the "Banquin Act" and the "Icarian Games", in which acrobats hurl themselves into lofty heights. Anyone who sees the daredevil feats could even begin to doubt gravity.
The 140-square-metre LED screen in the background, which plays video sequences and films shot for the musical in Africa to provide atmospheric background music for the choreographies, is also fascinating. Tickets for "Africa! Africa!" are without a doubt a guarantee for spectacular entertainment!
A very special crowd favourite is the elephant "Dumbo". This is a life-size elephant puppet moved by artists, which moves lifelike on stage. It is made by the famous puppet maker Michael Curry, who also makes impressive puppet artworks for the "Lion King" musical and Cirque du Soleil.
