Celebrating Mother Africa

And Queanbeyan residents will be one of the main ports of call as this brilliant, internationally-successful stage show returns for another Australian tour, stopping in at Queanbeyan on the evening of Friday, July 25.

Zimbabwean lead singer Normah Mkwanazi has starred with the show since it began in 2006, and said Cirque Mother Africa promised a wild ride through traditional African song, dance and acrobatics.

"It's a two-hour journey to Africa. If you haven't been to Africa, by watching the show you can at least have an idea of what Africa is, of the different languages, and the dances, the art, and the tradition," Ms Mkwanazi said.

"It's a mix of acrobatics, live music and traditional dances. It's where the unbelievable happens, it's where the impossible happens," she said.

The range of acts and styles on show spreads across the continent, with artists from Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Benin, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Guinea, and South Africa making for a diverse and talented cast.

And despite having seen the show many times over the last eight years, Ms Mkwanazi said she never tires of the acrobatic skill on display.

"Normally dishes are for the kitchen, but we have a guy from Ghana who spins about nine dishes at a time with his feet, with his hands, with his head, with his mouth. It's one of the highlights of the show. I always find myself watching it trying to work out how he does it," she laughed

"I've been with this show since 2006, but I still find myself peeping through the curtains while I'm changing between acts to see what the other guys are doing.

"We really have amazing acts. It's full of energy, power and laughs and it brings so much joy," she said.

n Catch Cirque Mother Africa at 8pm on Friday, July 25 at The Q Performing Arts Centre in Queanbeyan. Tickets: Adult $74.90, Concession (Pensioner) $69.90, Children (under 16) $49.00, Family of 4 $200.00. To book, visit www.theq.net.au or phone the box office on 6285 6290..