America's Got Talent: Fantasy League won by Tanzania's Ramadhani Brothers

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The Ramadhani Brothers' strength, agility and balancing powers has been wowing audiences and judges for several years

Author, Munira Hussein in Dar es Salaam & Gloria Aradi in Nairobi
Role, ��˿�� News
20 February 2024

Tanzania's Ramadhani Brothers have won the first season of the US reality competition America's Got Talent (AGT): Fantasy League.

Fadhili Ramadhani, 36, and Ibrahim Jobu, 26, beat nine other finalists, taking home the inaugural trophy and $250,000 (£198,000) in prize money.

The pair are known for their daring head-balancing performances.

Their mentor, judge Howie Mandel, said their routine was "probably one of the most terrifying acts in [AGT] history".

"Our lives are changing from this moment," US Today magazine quoted Ramadhani as saying following their win in the show which is a spin-off of America's Got Talent, featuring winners, finalists and fan favourites from previous seasons.

"This victory means a lot to us. We are extremely happy."

Jobu told People Magazine that they would use the prize money to buy more equipment and upgrade their training centre back home in Tanzania.

"We also want to help other acrobats from our community improve their lives. We'd also like to buy land and build our own homes."

The pair are first to headline a show on the iconic Las Vegas Strip in the US.

The two acrobats amazed the AGT: Fantasy League judges with acts that involved one them balancing the other's body weight on his head while navigating different sets.

, one of the brothers climbed up and down a pair of ladders while balancing the other on his head.

They then moved to their second act, where one of the blindfolded brothers climbed a tall ladder while simultaneously balancing the other on his head.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Canadian comedian and AGT judge Howie Mandel served as mentor to the Ramadhani Brothers on the show

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan , saying in Swahili: "Your journey continues to show that effort, discipline, dedication and self-confidence are important pillars to achieve success. You promote our country well and set a good example for others."

The Ramadhani Brothers have appeared in several "Got Talent" franchises, including in Australia, Spain and Romania.

Ramadhani and Jobu were finalists in the 2023 main AGT competition, losing to Romanian-born performer Adrian Stoica and his dog Hurricane.

Their trainer and coach is Winston Ruddle, a Zimbabwean who founded an acrobatic school in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam and is behind the international touring troupe Cirque Mama Africa.