Shamil Tanna photographs a group of acrobats in the beautiful coastal village of Watamu during his recent time in Kenya.

Kenya’s beach acrobats are self-taught local performers who have transformed raw talent into a way of life. Many grow up in rural communities before making their way to the Kenyan coast, where they train and perform incredible displays of acrobatics and human pyramids. What often begins as a way to earn a living and entertain tourists can grow into a professional career, taking them from Kenya’s beaches to stages around the world.