Hebbel am Ufer shows the filmed documentation of Stefan Kaegi’s theatre production “Radio Muezzin”. Four muezzins from Cairo talk about their lives, jobs and the centralisation of the calls to prayer, which was initialised of the Minister of Religious Affairs. In their stocking feet, as if in a mosque, they show family snapshots and pictures of their neighbourhoods and explain to the audience how to wash and pray according to Muslim ritual and what the call to prayer means to them.

The concept arose after a decision in 2004 by the Egyptian Minister of Religious Affairs who announced “that the public racket caused by Cairo’s hundreds of muezzins leading the daily calls to prayer over scratchy loudspeakers across the city was simply too much for residents to bear any longer. The 30 best muezzins chosen by the Ministry would take turns broadcasting the call to prayer live via a dedicated radio channel.” (New York Times, 18/03/2009)

Photo:Claudia Wiens