Founding of the Circus

Wude Zeleke Gebre was born in Addis Ababa. As a child she joined the provincial circus at Jima, in southern Ethiopia. Life and proper schooling was difficult for children like her in that time, but Wude early showed an aptitude for gymnastics and as a very small child enrolled in the local circus.

"Circus" in Ethiopia does not have quite the same connotation as it does in the west; there are no animals. It might more correctly be interpreted as "gymnasium/school" to western thinking. Circuses in Ethiopia concentrate on physical and mental discipline as essential elements to a healthy education and lifestyle. Good acrobats are admired as much for their status as role models as for their physical capabilities. A circus in Ethiopia is, of course, also run as a business to provide a livelihood for its performers and members.

Wude's many abilities were noted early, and she quickly rose to become one of the top performers in the circus.

In 1999 she moved with her family to the northern city of Bahir Dar. Here there was no circus, but great numbers of street children, HIV/AIDS orphans, and as everywhere in Ethiopia, those outcast from society because of some physical handicap or other. Wude immediately set to work with her mother and her brothers to establish the Yenegew Tesfa Circus Bahir Dar. Translated into English this name is 'Tomorrow's Hope Circus of Bahir Dar'.

Wude's mother organized a group of women to sew uniforms and costumes; one of her brothers, who has a small trucking business, provides his pick-up truck for circus transport; another brother has a "boom box" and provides music for the performers.

The success of the Yenegew Tesfa Circus was recognized in February, 2007, when the group won first place honours at National and Regional Championships held in the nation's capital, Addis Ababa. During these proceedings Wude was named her country's best circus trainer and coach.