Murabitun in doccie

Murabitun in doccie

After a successful award winning documentary on Afrikaaps – a short film exploring the untold Creole history of Afrikaans - young talented director Dylan Valley is back inviting the community to come and view the screening of his latest documentary called Jumuah - The Gathering. The film tells the story and traditions of the small, energetic community of Murabitun Muslims in Muizenberg – a diverse collection of followers of Islam.

The visual piece looks in at their lives and takes the viewer through a series of personal segments of life, careers, dreams and the community itself. Valley told VOC’s Afternoon Cruise that when a fellow classmate asked him to direct the movie a few years back, he immediately took on the responsibility to get to know more about Islam and spent most of his time in the Muslim community.
“Before we eventually put everything together and started the documentary, I was forced to put myself in the Muslim environment, which included getting to know how to make salaah and recite and pronounce certain things before the actual shooting of the film.” Valley said that he was introduced to various Muslim families within the Cape Town area who briefed him on Islam.

“There were so many families who invited me to spend time in their homes, have lunch with them after Jumuah and sometimes I would stay there till late night to see how they make salaah and recite. I even spend my time at the Jumuah masjid in Orange Street just to feel and get used to the environment." As the movie proceeded, he chose to focus on certain families and used the very mosque as a focal point.

“It was important for me to become part of it and learn more of the Islamic society. Being a non Muslim, I also got the opportunity to reconnect with this part of my history as my father and grandparents are Muslim. It was a great journey for me and I am looking forward to sharing this great movie with the community.” For those interested in viewing the movie, Jumuah- The Gathering will be screened at the Furgard Theatre on Monday 11 June at 6pm and on Monday 18 June at Nu Metro in the V&A Waterfront. VOC (Aishah Cassiem)