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Young performers from schools across Cape Town impressed audiences at the 9th Annual Islamic Eisteddfod, showcasing poetry, speech and spoken word centred on faith, identity and creativity.
By YASEEN BARDIEN
A packed auditorium erupted into applause as young performers took to the stage at the 9th Annual Islamic Eisteddfod, hosted by Fusion Inyameko Foundation.
Held at the Academia Auditorium in Lansdowne, the two-day event, which took place on Monday, April 20, and Wednesday, April 22, brought together young participants from schools across Cape Town under the theme ‘Journeying Back Toward Allah’.
Due to its growth, schools were limited to two learners per category, per age group. The categories were poetry, speech and spoken word, with participants selecting from a set of topics within each category. Learners were given a maximum time of four minutes on stage.
‘The Islamic Eisteddfod is an important event for learners as it gives them an opportunity to research and prepare insightful presentations on various topics,’ said Fusion co-founder Nizaam Abdol.
Proceedings began with an opening address by Abdol, officially opening the programme.
The juniors segment, held on Monday, featured learners aged seven to 12. The atmosphere reflected a sense of excitement unique to the younger participants.
Schools including Al-Waqiah Academy, Blomvlei Primary School, Crescent Primary School, Habibia Primary and The Leadership College took to the stage, alongside a homeschooled learner, reflecting the inclusivity of the event.
Rania Fataar from Blomvlei Primary School opened the programme with a piece about ‘If I met the Prophet (PBUH)’, immediately engaging the audience and setting the tone with a confident display.
Throughout the evening, the learners displayed remarkable composure. Even during moments when they paused to remember a line, they recovered with ease, showcasing maturity beyond their years.
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Some performances stood out due to the use of creative props, including torches, boxes and video projections.
Muskaan Muhammed stood out with a lively and humorous performance, combining strong voice projection with natural line delivery that had the audience laughing. The final performance of the evening took the form of a rap, highlighting the diversity on display.
Certificates were awarded to all participants, with prizes presented to the top three in each category.
Among the junior winners, Aasiyah Khan, who won first prize in spoken word with her piece, ‘Which of your Lord’s favours would you deny’, described the experience as emotional.
‘It was interesting for me, I feel very emotional,’ she said.
Poetry winner Mogamat Ashaaz Isaacs, a former winner, drew inspiration from a recent Umrah journey for his piece, ‘Count your blessings’, while Rafeeqah Davids secured first place in the speech category.
By contrast, the seniors segment, held on Wednesday, featured 49 participants from 16 schools and carried a more composed and reflective atmosphere.
While the juniors brought youthful energy, the seniors, aged between 13 and 19, demonstrated greater maturity in both delivery and context.
The senior programme opened with Qudisiyyah Paulsen, who presented on the topic ‘Count your blessings’.
Among the standout performers was Amaarah Titus, who delivered an emotional piece that resonated with the audience. Saafiyah Darries presented a deeply personal reflection on feeling lost as a Muslim, conveying a mature and thought-provoking message and drawing a strong response from a captivated audience.
Saa’riah Richards took top honours in poetry, while Amina Datay won the speech category and Hamzah Mehmood secured first place in spoken word.
Datay’s speech focused on cancel culture.
‘It is really important to show the world that we need to use social media in the right way and to not cancel people for the wrong things,’ she said.
Saa’riah’s topic was counting your blessings.
‘I chose it because during modern times people neglect or deny what they have been given. I hope this topic allows people to see what they’ve been blessed with.’
As the winners were announced, thunderous applause was heard, closing off a successful initiative where youth were given the opportunity to shine.
Abdol said the Islamic Eisteddfod, established in 2017, has grown from 39 learners representing seven schools to 108 participants representing 26 schools this year.
The Fusion Inyameko Foundation provided learners with a space to develop confidence and express their creativity. The event highlighted not only the talent of young performers but also their ability to engage with faith, identity and contemporary issues with confidence and creativity.
