‘The Moroccan Sheikha Soukaina’ - Soukaina Joual

Moroccan multidisciplinary artist Soukaina Joual opens the Halaqat Focus with her performance 'The Moroccan Sheikha Soukaina'. Through a variety of aesthetic forms — narration, performative reading, found objects, soundtracks, and images — this performance weaves different social and personal events into one tapestry.

From the island of Sidi Abderahman in Casablanca to the neighboured of Miami in Alexandria and even a digital space. The artist tries to question the notions of witchcraft, superstition, traditional practices, media representations of women, the stereotypical gaze, and their ties to feminism. How is the figure of the witch perceived by society? What kind of knowledge is transmitted, preserved, and possibly transformed within communities that still practice witchcraft to date? And most importantly, what role and position may the cultural, religious, and magical rites play in establishing and sustaining cultural hegemony?

The performance will be followed by a discussion with Soukaina Joual and Nedjma Hadj Benchelabi.
Moderation: Safia Kessas 

The European project Halaqat is implemented by the Goethe-Institut in collaboration with Bozar - Centre for Fine Arts Brussels. Halaqat is co-funded by the European Commission (under the designation: EU-LAS CULTURE), the Goethe-Institut and Bozar.