OUT OF AFRICA AND IN THE FAR NORTH
TWO new performances from Cirque Mother Africa will celebrate 15 years of art and music when they are held at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre on Saturday.
The show tells a series of stories from several African nations including Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.
Lead singer and narrator Pretty Changese, originally from Durban in South Africa, said she did not always believe she would be a singer.
“God gave me this voice and I love singing. I don’t like to praise myself but others do. I’ve had people say they get goosebumps when I sing,” Ms Changese said.
“My singing matches with the show and I sing for each different act. Sometimes at the front of the stage and sometimes in the back with the choir.”
Ms Changese described the show as a combination of acts and stories from different nations to highlight the diversity of the continent.
She said one of her favourite stories touched on man’s relationship with nature and how he wishes to connect with animals who have become extinct.
“There’s a story of the man with the bones who misses the old animals who have died so he is speaking inside his head with the bones.
“He wishes for the animals to come back to life but they won’t so I sing a song speaking to God, praying for nature, the kids and everything in the world to heal,” she said.
Ms Changese said she had worked on other projects before but
performing in Cirque Mother Africa always felt like home.
“I came from South Africa and met two guys on the show from Kenya but you can’t even tell that we just arrived and met each other. Here we get along so well,” she said.
Ms Changese, who recently toured Cirque Mother Africa in Europe, said she most enjoyed performing in Venice.
“We were performing in the water the whole time while it’s moving underwater, it was so interesting.
“I love everywhere we go as long as we get to perform, so come to the show and bring your family,” she said.
To buy tickets, visit CPAC’s website.