The Black Circus of the Republic of Bantu at Ellyn Bye Studio, Portland Center Stage at The Armory

An enveloping performance ritual by avant-garde South African artists Princess Mhlongo and Albert Ibokwe Khoza. The Black Circus of the Republic of Bantu investigates the impact of the imperial and colonial gaze on Black bodies. Through an examination of the ongoing pain of historical and continuing racism, the artists create a space for collective healing and an opportunity for dignity to be reclaimed.

**Photo by Sanele Thusi.