Ojalá / Inshallah: Wishes From The Muslim World

The Miami Dade College Live Arts 2017-2018 season Ojala / Inshalla: Wishes From the Muslim World was committed to exploring cultural intersections and dismantling xenophobia. The Spanish word Ojala means” I wish” and derives its meaning from the Arabic phrase “insha’Allah or God willing. The use of these words as the title of the series is a reminder of the Moorish impact on the Spanish language and Hispanic identity shared by many of greater Miami’s residents. The objective of the series is to celebrate Muslim and Middle Eastern and North African communities as a valuable part of Miami’s richly diverse culture.

Amongst the season’s offerings were Pakistan’s Sachal Ensemble, Iranian virtuoso Shaba Motallebi, and acclaimed choreographer Herve Koubi. Kismet Creative Studio worked with MDC Live Arts to document all of the season’s performances, artist lectures, and student engagement programs. The project resulted in a the creation of documentary short season review and a short profile on the Hip Hoppa Locka community engagement project, which was a week-long hip hop workshop hosted for grade school students in Opa Locka. MDC Live Arts used these video materials as part of their marketing campaign for the following season, and to demonstrate the project’s fruition to funding partners.

Ojala/Inshallah was inspired by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, whose Building Bridges initiative made this project possible. It is offered with a spirit of hope and with wishes for inclusion, co-existence and mutual understanding.