When five Kenyan acrobats studying at the Sarakasi Trust met producer Alexander Sunny, they came together to form The Black Blues Brothers, combining the sound and energy of a cult classic 80s film with the acrobatic feats of contemporary circus. Launching another tour this fall, the troupe is taking their self-named show back to Edinburgh Fringe… and beyond it.

With their high-spirited, high-powered tribute to the legendary cult movieThe Blues Brothers, a troupe of talented Kenyan acrobats has brought an irresistible kind of energy to global stages.The Black Blues Brothers troupe has dazzled audiences around the world, performing for Pope Francis at the Vatican and the British Royal Family at the Royal Variety Show. After a sold-out, five-star run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019 and an upcoming return in Summer 2022,The Black Blues Brothers will take their show on tour around the UK this autumn. 

Set in a nightclub reminiscent of the Cotton Club,The Black Blues Brothers show melds contemporary circus and musical comedy into a spectacular night of family entertainment. As a vintage radio blasts out nostalgic ‘80s hits from the film, including “Gimme Some Lovin’,” “Sweet Home Chicago,” and “Soul Man,” the club’s barman and waiters transform into performers. The acrobats will use every chair, table, and coat rack available to stage their feats. Expect to see jaw-dropping balancing acts, towers of chairs, high-octane drumming, a fire-laced limbo routine, and extraordinary human pyramids!  

The Black Blues Brothers bring the energy of African Circus to the UK. Having trained at the Sarakasi Trust in Nairobi, these brilliant acrobats learned crucial skills and gained independence. The Sarakasi Trust presents the best of Kenyan creativity and empowers trainees and contracted artists by giving them the tools to manage their craft and careers. This support system is seen nowhere more clearly than in the mind-blowing pyramids performed by the troupe. It is through their circus that they escape their surroundings and unleash their joie de vivre. 

The Black Blues Brothers was masterfully conceived by Alexander Sunny, impresario, circus historian, and Professor of the History of the Circus and Street Performances at the University of Milan. This show has been seen by over a quarter of a million people in Europe alone, in more than 200 cities. As well, the troupe was named the best acrobatic theatre show at the Adelaide Fringe by the Australian newspaperThe Advertiser. 

For more insight about the show and the Sarakasi Trust program, we spoke to Alexander Sunny and Kenyan circus artist Bilal Musa Huka, one of the five stars ofThe Black Blues Brothers troupe. 

Andrea Honis: Tell us more about the artists in the troupe. When did you start your training? 

Bilal: We always say that we’ve been doing acrobatics since we were born! But we started training when we discovered Sarakasi, a performing arts school in Nairobi where everybody was as in love with the arts as we were. Some of us knew each other before; others met there. We immediately felt good vibes from each other, and this sensation has accompanied us throughout our careers. Now we try to give that feeling to the audience. We can’t wait to share it with Edinburgh Fringe spectators this August, and with the people of the UK in September and October!

Andrea: How were these artists chosen for The Black Blues Brothers? 

Alexander: As a circus producer, I have been travelling all around the world, casting hundreds of young talents. Kenya has a strong acrobatics tradition, and when I was asked to visit Sarakasi, I found these five brilliant performers. Together, we decided to do something very new: not the conventional “ethnic show,” but an original mix of human pyramids, somersaults, fire routines, and catchy, unforgettable music. And what could be better inspiration thanThe Blues Brothers, a cult movie with an immortal soundtrack that gets everybody dancing? I think that this change of style is the secret to the show’s success, because this kind of music enhances the breathtaking virtuosity of the acrobats. 

Andrea: Tell us more about the Sarakasi Trust. How is this organization funded? Is it a school for acrobats? Who can attend? 

Bilal: Sarakasi was founded by high-ranking UN official Rudy van Dijck and his wife Marion Op het Veld, also known as “Mama Sarakasi.” This school helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Eastern Africa by giving them an opportunity through arts, acrobatics, and dance. 

Andrea: Describe the program a little bit. How does the school help students succeed in the job market? What are the tools and skills that they provide for career development?

Alexander: First of all, Sarakasi improves the technique of the acrobats thanks to their expert trainers. But it also helps the performers to find their way, learn how to manage their careers and how to face the international job market. The Black Blues Brothers, for example, were selected for a high-level formative path supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission. That gave them the opportunity to develop their artistic and entrepreneurial skills and meet academics, operators, and professionals of live entertainment. Now they are all outstanding artists with creative and managerial competencies who could be trainers for other young performers.The show you will see in Edinburgh and all around the UK is the outcome of this process: melding personal backgrounds, passion, and hard work. 

Andrea: Bilal, can you please provide a quote about your experience at Sarakasi?

Bilal: Sarakasi is our home— a place you bring with you everywhere you are. When we are on stage, we remember our story, and this gives us the energy to present to the audience an immersive, joyful experience. And, hey, now we’re doing it withThe Blues Brothers in our hearts, too! 

Andrea: Any closing words about The Black Blues Brothers?

Bilal: If you love music and want to spend an hour speechless in the face of astonishing stunts,The Black Blues Brothers is the show for you. I dare you not to dance!

Source: modified press release from Chloe Nelkin Consulting, shared by Naomi O'Toole. Images shared by Phoebe Carlisle. Photo rights to Chloe Nelkin.