Tribulations d'Un Musulman d'Ici

From his father's arrival in Belgium in the 70s to his own role as a father, a Belgian, a Moroccan, a Frenchman, a Judeo-Christian Muslim, and an artist, Ismaël Saïdi retraces the journey of a child shuttled between Catholic, secular, communal, and Muslim schools, of a teenager searching for identity, of a police officer of Moroccan origin arriving in an all-white police station. How does one find their place when they are the product of this complex blend, a true "lasagne of identities" where all the layers of a multicultural life are stacked, intertwined, and savoured? Can one reconcile multiple heritages without falling into the trap of communitarianism or erasure? With incredible sincerity and a great deal of self-deprecation, he invites you to experience a slice of his life. From his effervescent youth to his adult questioning, he recounts his pivotal encounters and uses the power of intimate storytelling to dismantle, one by one, the mechanisms of hatred, whether it be everyday racism or the antisemitism he sometimes saw emerging within his own neighbourhood. Alone on stage, with candour and mischief: a show full of humour and tenderness where cultures and identities intertwine without ever clashing. A true ode to tolerance.

THE AUTHOR'S NOTE

"To tell one's life story in a book was already no easy feat. To lay myself bare, to delve into my deep intimacy when all around me was modesty, things left unsaid. The book's success with young people made me want to take the plunge, to dare to perform a solo show. It's a journey I invite you to experience with me, a journey into the depths of my life, surrounded by those who helped and loved me. It's a show born out of necessity, a vital need to tell, to tell so as not to forget myself, to tell so as to resemble each other, to tell so as to come together."

TEAM

Text and direction: Ismaël Saïdi

With: Ismaël Saïdi

Based on the novel "Moi Ismaël"