Acrobatic high jinks

There is no lack of energy at the Orange County Fair when the Mapapa African Acrobats perform.

The acrobats, who dress in native attire, limbo, juggle, jump through hoops and make human pyramids during their 15-minute fair spectacle.

“It’s very interesting and exciting,” said Joan Hamill, director of community relations at the fair. “It’s an innovative act that fit in with the fair, and something that people seek out year after year.”

Crowds are quick to gather as the acrobats perform incredible feats of strength and agility. On Friday, some arrived at the show early to make sure they had the best view. Others stumbled across it while strolling through the fair. All stayed to the last minute.

“It was fantastic,” Norwalk resident Kaci Cooper said after the acrobats performed. “The energy never stopped. I want to see it again later today.”

The acrobats said they love the crowd’s energy during the shows and thrive off it during their performances.

“When we see lots of people, we get energy to do it,” said Juma Mwasahani, one of the five Mapapa African Acrobats. “We feel it’s fine, and we’re enjoying doing it.”

Though this is the first year this particular Mapapa African Acrobats group has performed at the fair, this is not the first year the show has been booked.

“We first brought this act a few years ago and it’s become a fair tradition,” Hamill said.

Huntington Beach resident Irene Purdy saw the performance at last year’s fair and arrived at Fair Square 30 minutes before Friday’s 3 p.m. show to get a good view.

“I saw it was on the program for this year and I’ve wanted to see it ever since,” she said. “They have definite energy and are very involved with the crowd.”

The Mapapa African Acrobats have secured themselves new fans as well.

“We heard about it when we came in today and we came to the see the action and what they would do,” said Long Beach resident Sherrie Opitz.

The Mapapa African Acrobats originate from Kenya and started performing in the United States in 1999. The members have been family friends since childhood and have been performing together for 14 years.

Their roots intrigued a few viewers in the crowd and drew some to the show.

“I thought it would be pretty cool because they’re from Kenya,” said 11-year-old Maggie Mendez.

The Mapapa African Acrobats can be seen throughout the fair daily, performing at Fair Square at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and on the Plaza Arts Stage at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.dpt.10-ocfair-logo-BPhotoInfoRP1SVC9S20060715j207elncCredit: Caption: (LA) dpt.15-fair-1-BPhotoInfoRP1SVBEB20060715j2f2r6ncCredit: MARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT Caption: (LA)Juma Mwasahani does a back flip over a jump rope during Friday’s Mapapa African Acrobats performance at the Orange County Fair. dpt.15-fair-2-BPhotoInfoRP1SVCGU20060715j2f2rnncCredit: MARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT Caption: (LA)The Mapapa African Acrobats perform at Fair Square at the Orange County Fair.