Clowns in Sudan

Visiting Youth in Prison

Today we performed in Juba, Sudan, for the very first time, for an
audience of youth prisoners. Beforehand, our minds raced with the
possible challenges we would be met with once we were inside. We heard
that young men had remained shackled together during a cholera
outbreak. We imagined hardened criminals. What actually happened there
has changed us.

As we entered the courtyard we saw the prisoners roaming around. We
were informed that all the prisoners were invited to attend the show,
not just the youth.   Some men were shackled, others had intense
tribal scarring on their foreheads, and some had what appeared to be
staph infections. The youth were all sitting on the ground in the only
spot of shade in the whole courtyard, and the youngest of them looked
to be about 10 years old.  They had been waiting for us.  We sat in
front of them while our partner organizations, Confident Children Out
of Conflict and International Rescue Committee introduced us and gave
an informational talk on Aids.

We begin our show by playing our musical instruments, and the

prisoners’ immediate response was laughter.  Throughout the show eyes
were wide and grins were huge. They supported our performance with
punctuations of applause and laughter.  We were a hit! All the inmates
we brought onstage for the audience participation sections were
respectful, cooperative, and funny. The section they liked the most is
when our South African clown partner, Gavin, juggles three toilet bowl
cleaners.  They were also impressed by his ability to ride a unicycle!
 It’s probably the only unicycle that has ever been to Sudan.

After the show, the prisoners surrounded us, wanting mostly to try out the

unicycle, but also to say thank you and to ask us many questions.  I
probably should have felt nervous about being surrounded by murderers,
criminals, and lunatics, but these men and boys made us all feel very much at ease.
When I looked into their eyes smiling back at me all I could see were
humans.  Warm, kind, welcoming, humans.

PS Also at the prison, I broke my personal record for most terrifying
outhouse used.  But that is another story entirely that I’ll save for
only the bravest souls.

- Elisa Lane