Interview: ‘Afronauts’ on Staging the Ultimate Underdog Story of the Space Age

In 1964, Zambia was getting ready for independence. Science teacher Edward Mukuku Nkoloso, who in 1960 founded the Zambia National Academy of Science, Space Research, and Philosophy proposed a space programme which would, on the very day of independence, send one 17-year-old and two cats into space. In the end, literally and metaphorically, it did not take off.

We met up with the creative team behind Afronauts: Gift Chansa, Artistic Director of Circus Zambia, Adam McGuigan, Artistic Director of Wake The Beast, and Independent Documentary filmmaker, Ngosa Chungu. We find out about their abortive attempt to land in Edinburgh in 2020, the challenges of getting here now, and how it became confused with a similarly named show about the same story.

What can you tell me about the show Circus Zambia are bringing up to Edinburgh?

Gift: It’s inspired by events that took place when Zambia was fighting for independence. Edward Mukuku Nkoloso had this vision, to launch a rocket to the moon. Zambia was trying to say ‘we can run democracy, our own government’, and there was this guy saying, ‘I’m going to train these young people and take them to the moon to beat the USA and Russia on Zambia’s Independence Day!’

Adam: I first heard this story through Gift years ago and it was so inspiring to the young people we were working with. This was Zambians being the heroes of their own story; this audacious dream with space was so evocative.

And how do you get that story onto the stage?

Adam: The whole show is multi-disciplinary – circus, dance, songs, and a lot of projections. We also use archive footage where you see some of the Afronauts. That’s important because the production has a modern feel to it, but we wanted to tip our hats to the people who were part of that dream, to take them with us to Edinburgh: make sure they get their flowers as well.

Ngosa: Ancestral veneration is historically very important in Zambia, and the ancestors must be present when we’re presenting this story.

It’s been a bit of a journey to get it to Edinburgh.

Adam: Gift and I toured the UK and Ireland in 2019 and were looking for the next story we wanted to tell. Afronauts was that perfect story. We were due to come to Edinburgh in 2020, then COVID happened. It has taken six years to get here.

What were your biggest challenges?

The logistics. It feels Herculean. When we started, we needed the budget, neither of our organisations can sustain a huge loss. We had to get everybody to Edinburgh, cover that cost, then not all of our guys have NRC registration cards, passports are a risk, as is getting visas, then there’s accommodation…

Afronauts is more than a story about space.

Adam: These stories became prominent the last 20 years because places like Zambia are trying to tell their own stories.

Gift: That kind of storytelling is very natural to how Zambians tell stories about themselves. Zambians and Africans historically used oral tradition, had people who would remember the stories and pass them on from generation to generation.

Adam: This was, however, the time to take the story outside of Zambia and share it.

Tell me about the confusion with what the Royal Court are doing in October.

Gift: Friends were telling us our show is at the Royal Court, and we’re like, ‘no, that’s not our show’. But there is an Afronauts show with a similar description.

Our show has been performed since 2022 in Zambia. We reached out to David [Byrne – Artistic Director of The Royal Court] and we have found a way to support each other. We’re going to shout about their show when it comes up in October and encourage anyone who’s come to our show to continue the journey by seeing a different interpretation. [David Byrne has promised to come to Edinburgh to flyer and publicise Circus Zambia’s show too.]

Instead of fighting it out, we’ve decided we can all benefit from supporting each other, but I think it’s fitting that Circus Zambia has the opportunity to perform first, in the UK from the people whose story it is. The performance at the Royal Court shows how the story has resonated with the public.

What’s the legacy you hope to leave?

Gift: To be of service to our community, be inspirational, think beyond our circumstances – daring to dream! That has kept humans alive: we dare to dream, not whether you succeed or fail. It’s having that kernel planted that finds a way to grow and survive, no matter what is thrown at it. That’s the essence of the story, why it’s so enduring.

Adam: We need this journey and we need collaboration, because this is a grim world at the minute. This story is hopeful, aspirational, and important. It’s about our potential, our identity and how we use it in a family-friendly, uplifting, positive story which is really funny and dynamic. And it’s got a gorgeous circus, a perfect fringe show.

Afronauts is at Underbelly, George Square 6th till 31st August

Photo credit: Circus Gambia / Wake The Beast