TO WRITE MY LIFE reveals forgotten history stories with sincerity and humour.
Two actresses, Hafsa Aqqal and Oumoul Kairy Diallo share both real and made-up stories. They highlight the story of Omar Ibn Saïd, a scholar from Futa Toro in present-day Senegal who was enslaved in the United States in the 18th century.
Through Omar Ibn Saïd’s autobiography, which is written in Arabic and has several translations with varying interpretations, they explore onstage themes of identity, ethnic and cultural diversity, and address issues of racism, discrimination and unequal opportunities.
The performance is multilingual with surtitles. This show focuses on different languages – mother tongue, intellectual or imposed – as a form of expression and as part of identity formation.
