Tackling issues of Islamophobia after 9/11
AN AWARD-winning onewoman show casting the spotlight on experiences of four Muslim women in Cape Town, whose lives were touched by 9/11, will hit the city again after 13 years.
This is part of this year’s Artscape Women Humanity Arts Festival.
At Her Feet, written and directed by Nadia Davids in 2002, is performed by actress Quanita Adams.
It is said to be one of the most important theatrical works to emerge around Islamophobia, Muslim women and Islamic feminism.
Davids said: “The play was in response to the way Muslim women were portrayed in the media post 9/11. We were portrayed in a way that was unrecognisable and I wanted to respond to that prejudice.”
The play evokes the experiences of four Muslim women in Cape Town – a secular student, a tough-talking auntie, a Che-worshipping slam poetess, and a recently married religious travel agent.
They narrate their own lives, offering vivid, deeply moving stories that speak to race, love, faith and belonging.
Davids said it was “tragic” how the relevance of this play was still so deep.
“It is a hard moment with Islamophobia. It has increased significantly, these are urgent times to raise questions of racism,” Davids said.
Adams said: “After 9/11, the media expressed great interest in the Hijaab and Muslim men were portrayed as terrorists but my father is a Muslim man and so are our family and friends, and they are not terrorists.”
Davids said as much as the show had a “political undercurrent”, the top layer was about personal stories of love and relationships.
“I believe much of the show’s success is about the characters’ rich internal lives,” said Davids.
She said she was excited to be bringing the show back to Cape Town.
“Over the years of performing the play, the audience was always very diverse in race, cultural and religious affiliations, and they have enjoyed it.
“That is all you want as an artist – for people to connect with what you are saying.”
She said even though the play addressed serious issues, it was still very funny.
“We not trying to lecture anyone, this is a celebration of 15 years of professional collaboration,” said Adams.
She said: “As women, we celebrate, appreciate and feel strongly about initiatives that celebrate women.”
At Her Feet will run at the Artscape Theatre from August 8-12 at 7pm, (3pm on Wednesday and a 2pm matinee show on Saturday).
Tickets cost R80 and are available from Computicket or Artscape Dial-A-Seat on
021 421 7695.