Tanzanite African Acrobats

Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 1pm & 5pm

Family Series Sponsor
The City of Irvine

This performance is presented without an intermission.

Prepare for a spectacular journey through strength, rhythm, and cultural expression with the Tanzanite African Acrobats—an extraordinary ensemble of performers trained at Tanzania’s renowned Bagamoyo Arts and Cultural Institute, a distinguished centre for the performing arts that nurtures excellence in dance, acrobatics, music, and theatre.

At the helm of tonight’s performance is Artistic Director, Acrobat, and Percussionist Matiga Koba, whose dynamic vision drives the production and whose presence as Master of Ceremonies ensures an engaging connection between the performers and the audience. Matiga’s leadership and musicianship bring infectious energy to every moment on stage.

The dancers and acrobats of the Tanzanite troupe bring a dazzling array of skills, seamlessly blending tradition with athletic innovation:

Riziki Mikongo brings breathtaking flair to classic chair-balance acts and human pyramid formations, inviting gasps with remarkable precision and balance.

Nasibu Nnango combines bowl-spinning feats with powerful tumbling, gumboot dance, and intricate pyramids that showcase agility and rhythm.

Jacob Ngao captivates with his explosive style as a breakdance acrobat and tumbler, infusing contemporary movement with acrobatic daring.

Hassani Hamadi “Seki” combines breakdance flair with acrobatic mastery cultivated through international experience, including appearances with the Ringling Brothers Circus, delivering dynamic, crowd-pleasing spins and flips.

Emmanuel Mbonde “Junior” elevates the spectacle with bicycle stunt acrobatics and agile tumbling, adding inventive kinetic energy to the performance.

Mulugeta Asefa mesmerizes as a contortionist, fluid in motion and extraordinary in flexibility—his craft shaped by experiences with world-class productions such as Cirque du Soleil.

Eddiy Msamila brings distinctive showmanship to hat juggling and tumbling, having performed in major entertainment venues, including Dolly Parton’s Pirates Voyage show.

Shedrack Miskao “Slider” showcases remarkable limbo acrobatics and tumbling that defy expectations and push the body’s expressive potential.

Accompanying these awe-inspiring acrobatic feats are masterful dancers Kwesi Willians and Majah Michell, whose compelling movement vocabulary enriches the experience, along with Abdoulaye Conde, whose artistry on the kora adds a resonant musical layer that connects the performance to deep African traditions.