According to the organisers, the use of song, story, music, and dance is common within most African cultures, and has traditionally been a means of both entertaining and passing on messages. Circus in Ethiopia’s shows combine circus arts with traditional folk tales, music, ceremonies, songs, dances, and costumes. They use a combination of circus and cultural performance to pass on messages around health and social issues.

The Hero, a show developed by Circus in Ethiopia in 1992, uses music, drama, dance, and circus performances to address issues around HIV/AIDS among young people. The production focuses on the daily lives of children and youth, and follows Cholew, a shoeshine boy who lives on the street with his sister Tinbuallel. Through the situations the siblings face and the characters they meet, Cholew develops an understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS on his society and ultimately emerges as the hero of the story.

The show was launched at the National Theatre in Addis Ababa in September 2002. After Addis Ababa the creator of The Hero, Awake Emiru, went to Circus Dire Dawa, Circus Nazreth, Circus Jimma, and Circus Mekele to adapt the show to local conditions in other areas of the country.

Circus in Ethiopia regularly holds training workshops at their 5 branches to encourage interaction between performers from different areas, and to share knowledge and experiences.

HIV/AIDS, Health, Youth.

From October 1 2002 through February 28 2003, the five branches of Circus in Ethiopia performed 95 shows at 80 different venues throughout the country. More then 140,000 people attended these shows.

According to Circus in Ethiopia, the shows are very popular, despite the fact that circus is a relatively new artistic medium in the country. As circus is a unique medium, it has lent itself not just to providing entertainment but also to informing the public about, and promoting issues related to children’s rights, the risks of HIV/AIDS and how to avoid them, and the goals of humanitarian organisations such as the Red Cross.