CHIKHA

SAT 26 OCT | SOUTH LONDON GALLERY, 6:00 PM | TICKETS AVAILABLE SOON

Fatine, a 17-year-old girl, lives in Azemmour, Morocco, with her mother Nadia, and grandfather. Her mother is a “chikha” (singer and dancer of popular Moroccan music who animates weddings, circumcisions and other celebrations with the art of Aïta) by profession and heritage. Having finished high school, Fatine is torn between two opposing paths—either to perpetuate the family artistic tradition—or lead a more ordered life with her boyfriend Youssef, who rejects her sulphurous artistic heritage. As deeply in love with Youssef as with Aïta (ancestral poetic and musical art practised mainly by women-artists “chikhates” in Morocco), she has to decide on the direction of her life to fulfil herself. An unforeseen ultimatum forces her to make a radical decision.