A new series on YouTube is telling the stories of Cape Malay families.
Fatima Galant Abrahams, who grew up in Lansdowne, is one of the producers of the series, Cape Malay Jawwap!.
Ms Abrahams, 38, says the eight-part series tells the stories of both young and old and includes accounts from victims of the District Six forced removals under apartheid.
The first episode aired on the Cape Malay YouTube Channel, on Thursday January 7.
“Sometimes all we need is a chance, an ear, a shoulder,” she said. “Stories too have the power to heal, they are our memories, and they are part of who we are. They can break down the walls that separate our different ethnicity, cultures, nationality, traditions, races, religions.”
“Jawwap” in Cape Malay parlance means to stand together, to be heard, or to participate.
In the series, Somaya Doutie, of Lansdowne, speaks about losing both her parents in a stampede while on Hajj in 1994, and Mufieda Gallie Moos, also of Lansdowne, recounts how she struggled to conceive for 11 years before she had two sons, Majdi and Zakariya. Majdi was diagnosed with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy and the family had to learn how to care for him. Majdi is now 7 and loves to read and listen to the radio.
“To other families going through the same things, you’re not alone,” Ms Moos said. “Know that you’re great parents and you can do this. I hope the things I share, bring some comfort to your heart.”