Lions of Africa

Lions of Africa

The Lions of Africa  is a group made up of some of the most talented and expertly trained Senegalese artists of the present day. Through the magic of their colorful folklore and tradition, Lions of Africa invite you to experience ancient african tradition and culture through captivating performances; a blend of high-energy dance, acrobatics and infectious rhythms.  

Their show is built around the ancient senegalese tradition known as "Simb"; a magical ritual handed down through generations of medicine men known as Griots. This enchanting ritual has been reinterpreted by Laye Ananas and his fellow artists through music and dance, by which the viewer is transported to a world of supernatural human power where one takes on the form of a lion in order to tame the untamable king of the jungle. The performance is guaranteed to be a fascinating and wonderfully uplifting experience for all!

Not many groups can boast that they are official ambassadors of culture for their country, as Lions of Africa can for Senegal. In fact, Lions of Africa have supported the President of Senegal during elections in 1999, after which the senegalese government has given them official responsibility of welcoming and performing for all dignitaries arriving in Senegal.

The Story of the Simb

Once apon a time, an elderly man desperate to feed his starving children, leaves his village in hopes of gathering food. Apon crossing the jungle to get to the next village, the man suddenly came face to face with a lion. When faced with the hungry lion, the man was seized by anguish and feared for his life. Inexplicably, this lion seemed different to him somehow; something set him apart from the others he had seen. Realizing he had no way of escaping him, the man distressed at the thought of his family, who was dependent on him for food. He had no other option but to fight the lion. Suddenly, the beast pounced and lunged at him. This is all he remembered after he awoke some hours later...

Apon opening his eyes for the first time after the fact, the man was incredulous to find the lion, lying dead beside him. His own body was covered in blood and his clothes were torn to pieces, but he had somehow survived. "How was it possible to defeat a lion without a weapon?" he thought. After regaining his strength, the man arose and brought the beast back to his village. 

As he arrived home the villagers noticed his triumphant victory over the lion and ran in all directions. His wife asked the griots to announce his honorable return through celebratory drumming. The "sabar" and "tabala" drums, which were then used as a means for long-distance communication and celebration, were played on mountain tops to announce the man's victory.

A few days after the mysterious battle, the man began to morph into a lion when angered or dreaming. During these episodes, his body would cover with hair and his human features would change. He began attacking the villagers.

His offspring, born after the battle, were also affected by this phenomena, and they also became dangerous as they too began violently attacking people.

In order to stop the attacks and to protect the people, the griots began  dancing, drumming, singing and doing various acrobats. They also tamed the lions by performing feats of strength and endurance, such as walking on glass, dancing on fire and lying on beds of nails. This ritualistic ceremony is called "Simb".

For the show, the audience is encouraged to buy a red handkerchief at the entrance and wear it visibly on themselves in order to ward off the 'lions', who will come looking for 'victims' to bring on stage with them. 

The "tabala", "sabar", and "xine" will be played by the percussionists. The drummers represent the griots.

What is a Griot?

The West African griot tradition is found throughout Senegal. Griots are hereditary praise-singers
Griots (pronounced "gree-o'') are a caste of people, often preserved through inter-marriage, and so their societal status and occupation is inherited. 

They perform many roles within society, including singing, public speaking, playing instruments, reciting history, telling stories and entertaining. Although there are many different private musical traditions in Senegal, the only tradition of public performance is that of griots. In traditional settings, only griots may raise their voice or address an audience, while anyone else who wants to address a crown must whisper to the griot, who in turn yells the message to the audience.

Although griots are often said to be among the lowest castes, most Senegalese highly value the history, arts, and entertainment that they provide. Even today, almost all musicians, television/radio announcers, and stage actors are griots. The griot’s primary function is to preserve history and to praise the deeds of his or her patrons. Musical instruments are primarily used to aid in performing these other tasks, although they are also used for entertainment purposes, and highly valued among them.