PICS: 'I love Ramadan in Salt River' hopeful attempt to keep traditions alive

Clarence Ford speaks to Yusuf Gamiet about what the 'I love Ramadan in Salt River' is all about.

What is the 'I love Ramadan in Salt River' project all about?

See for yourself...

The project's vision...

Gamiet says, the concept originated in 2019 from a donated digital camera which sparked a discussion of a photographic project in a community in Salt River. 

The idea grew into documenting our life and traditions during Ramadan, realising that younger generations were still upholding the traditions of their grandparents.

But certain parts of Salt River through gentrification were losing these traditions as older Salt River families were being forced out with new members moving in, not really understanding traditions that encourage community, especially for Muslims during the month of Ramadan. 

There was value in capturing the daily life of a young generation during Ramadan so they may come to feel proud about upholding their traditions.  

Gamiet captured over 1000 photos which was whittled down to an exhibition with 200 photos - the above is just a taste of what was captured. 

"The project focusses on kids and ladies who are always in the background. We saw traditions being upheld like taking 'cookies' away to neighbours which was usually done with a plate and a cloth in my day but now the kids are still doing it with Tupperware." 

- Yusuf Gamiet, I love Ramadan in Salt River project

This project connected neighbours beyond religious beliefs 

Words like salamalaykoem and tramakasi is unique to communities like this and it's things like this which this project tries to uphold.

But, "sometimes the warmth and community isn't there" from new neighbours coming into the neighbourhood. 

For example, someone who moved into the area from overseas took the community to court over the 'call to prayer' being to loud over speakers coming from the mosque. 

"We had to defend the call to prayer defended at court. We understand that change is inevitable but it cannot come at the expense of heritage. There's a missed opportunity when you don't invest in the community first." 

- Yusuf Gamiet, I love Ramadan in Salt River project

But then you get other neighbours who asked about the project and brought their family and friends to see the pictures too. 

"We have had one man ask questions which actually provides hope for the traditions to be kept alive because we some people want to be part of a multi-cultural community. What stood out to us was that people who aren't Muslim in the community were going back to get friends and family to see them."

- Yusuf Gamiet, I love Ramadan in Salt River project

Remembering a lesson from the past... 

Strong communities where religious differences were respected and never an issue, remembers Gamiet.

"During apartheid, communities were strong because they needed to be - this goes back to slavery, colonialism which taught us ways to survive that period - people had to look out for each other. We were fortunate where we grew up in Salt River where that was the community all the time - we never knew the difference whether someone was Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish - we grew up understanding all religions but we didn't understand that there needed to be - as they say elsewhere in the world - tolerance of different religions. We've never needed to tolerate different religions because we never had disagreements with each other." 

- Yusuf Gamiet, I love Ramadan in Salt River project

"We can't really be safe behind electric fences and walls but we can be safe and free in community."

- Yusuf Gamiet, I love Ramadan in Salt River project

For more on the project, follow Our Cape Town Heritage online. 

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.