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It is a play about hope and the outcome of a self-discovery journey led by a Belgian-Moroccan and his two fellow comedians.
The play written and performed by Belgian-born comedian Latif Ait, Belgian-Turkish Erhan Demirci and Han Coucke, a Belgian of West Flemish origin, is a comic and adapted version of The Lion of Flanders or (De leeuw van Vlaanderen), a history novel about the medieval Franco-Flemish war.
But unlike the fictitious novel, the play is about real challenges that refugees, migrants and people with dual identities go through in Belgium. To put in other words, it is about «newcomers» who want to learn about the country and still feel proud of their origin and background.
As a Moroccan-Belgian, Ait sees himself in that situation in the past. «It is what I have always strived for», he told Yabiladi. Born in Belgium to Moroccan parents from the Tafraout region, the comedian went through an identity crisis, growing up, trying to figure out which one of his two cultures he should be most proud of.
«I was looking for the meaning of life and trying to know who I was», Ait recalled. And that is the reason why he decided to venture in this artistic project. «The play is mainly destined for the people in Belgium who are making contact for the first time with the Belgian and Flemish culture because it tells part of the country’s story», he explained.
Sharing the same struggles
With his play, which started Tuesday, Ait is bringing together different parts of the community to show them that although they come from different backgrounds, they can still find a common ground to coexist.
And this self-discovery journey requires change, according to Ait. «First you get your culture and background from your parents, it is very precious for you but then again you are also Belgian», he argued. «It is good to know who you are so you can evolve, bringing the two cultures and backgrounds together», the 46-year-old comedian said.
While Ait used comedy and art to answer questions about his identity, his fellow comedians were also doing so, each in their own way. «The three of us struggled in our real lives, we went through the same pain and that is why we are doing this play», Ait said. «We experienced the same struggles, searching for our identities and that is what we are trying to say to our audience», he stressed.
Besides his current play, the Antwerp-based comedian did several plays and shows in the past. After putting on hold his drawing career, he turned to the stage, where he feels that he «can say things [he] likes and hates» in a humorous way and without offending others.
Ait, Demirci and Coocke are currently touring Belgium with their play to tell their diverse audience that they relate to their struggles and wishes to adapt. Meanwhile, Ait revealed that he plans to come to Morocco one day and perform his plays and shows in Tachelhit to honor his Amazigh roots.
