As the traffic signals turn red at a congested junction in the Kenyan capital, a young performer dressed in leopard print steps into the road to tumble through the air.
asserted
performer → turn → air
He is joined by five identically dressed companions who together execute a series of acrobatic maneuvers.
asserted
who → join → maneuvers
One performer, juggling woven hats, detaches from the group to approach drivers in stationary vehicles.
asserted
performer → juggle → vehicles
Hoping for generous tips, he offers his hat to motorist after motorist while the rest of the troupe continues their display.
asserted
rest → hop → display
As soon as the lights change to green, the group quickly clears the road.
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group → change → road
Nairobi's street acrobats made their debut in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and have since become a regular sight at traffic stops throughout the city.
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acrobats → make → city
Taking advantage of heavy gridlock, these performers display their skills in return for cash to earn their livelihood.
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performers → take → livelihood
Mohammed Nyale, 22, said he took up acrobatics hoping for a life-changing occupation.
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he → say → occupation
"I have always loved acrobatics since I started performing at 15 years old," he said.
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he → love → acrobatics
He and his fellow group members departed their homes along the Kenyan coast dreaming of theatrical careers and packed theatres, but have instead settled for the streets, demonstrating their acrobatic stunts to drivers trapped in Nairobi's perpetual traffic.
asserted
He → depart → traffic
Nyale’s troupe meets early in the morning in a vacant field in Kawangware, an impoverished neighbourhood in Nairobi, to practice their acts.
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troupe → meet → acts
They subsequently head out onto the roads as traffic begins to build during the morning peak hour.
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traffic → head → hour
"We say a prayer before changing into our costumes," Nyale said.
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Nyale → say → costumes
Performing typically until midday, they take turns requesting tips from motorists.
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they → perform → motorists
Sums donated are generally modest, rarely exceeding 50 shillings (approximately 40 US cents).
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Sums → donate → shillings
Because many Kenyans rely on mobile wallets, the acrobats also pass out slips of paper bearing phone numbers to which money can be sent.
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money → rely → which
On a successful day, each member can earn roughly $6, which is enough to cover basic living costs, though on some days earnings are higher.
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earnings → earn → days
That matches the daily wage earned by most casual labourers in construction or farming in a country where unemployment remains widespread.
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unemployment → match → country
Youth unemployment was measured between 4.9 per cent and 9.9 per cent in 2024, according to figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
uncertain
unemployment → measure → Statistics
Earning money from street performances "is what enables us to live in Nairobi because we moved here from quite far and no one is helping us to pay rent," Nyale said.
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Nyale → earn → rent
They face competition, as acrobatic troupes have emerged across the city.
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troupes → face → city
On the other side of town, a group including 28-year-old Jackson Okoth entertained motorists along Lang'ata Road.
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group → include → Road
"There are no opportunities for us that we can go to, so we like it when we are here because it keeps us busy and it keeps us fit also," Okoth said.
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Okoth → be → us
"Instead of staying at home and doing reckless things, we decided to come here and perform for motorists and pedestrians."
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we → stay → motorists
Okoth aspires to join a professional circus and travel the globe.
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Okoth → aspire → globe
"I am still on my way, I am still trying, I am still working hard so that one day things might go well and I may find myself in Europe performing in a circus show," he said.
uncertain
he → try → show
Some drivers view the acrobats as an annoyance.
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drivers → view → annoyance
Others welcome the distraction.
asserted
Others → welcome → distraction
They entertain us and we feel good," said Geoffrey Kioi, a Nairobi entrepreneur who regularly gives tips to the acrobats.
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who → entertain → acrobats
They need to hustle.
asserted
They → need → ?
The Aporia
