MOHAMED ISMAT MOHAMED
Mombasa, KENYA
Photo: Samia Salim
Photo: Omar Banafa
"You are unique. You have different abilities and talents. You don't always have to follow in the footsteps of others."
MOHAMED ISMAT MOHAMED (Mombasa, Kenya)
Music: Brighter days by Sauti Sol (instrumental ft. Soweto gospel choir)
"I was at Muslim school (Madrassa) as usual, sitting where I always do near the window and feeling the cool breeze as I recited the Quran quietly. Suddenly, out of nowhere I felt a stick (kikoto) strike the back of my head and then my left eye by my teacher (ustadh). As I went home, my eye just felt a little sore at first. But then it started aching. My mother tried using some local medicine, but it was in vain. The doctor said 'You will never be able to see again with my left eye'. In that moment, his whisper was the softest sound I ever knew, while my heartbeat was the loudest sound I had ever heard. “
Photo: Omar Banafa
Photo: Omar Banafa
Photo: Omar Banafa
Mohamed Ismat Mohamed's S.C.A.R.S. Story (Mombasa, Kenya)
Kucheza ni maisha
(DANCE IS LIFE)
It was not easy at first, to accept myself in my present state,
with the loss of my eye.
But even without the prospect of my future life,
I would never tire of doing what I love
Dances, acrobatic- my inspiration
To train those who have suffered and despaired
In pursuit of their livelihood
In one way or another
Leaving them this expression
That God has his reasons for everything that happens.
Mohamed Ismat Mohamed was born and raised on the coast of Mombasa, Kenya. Throughout his life, he has always felt electrified by dance. He started teaching dance in 2013 and since that day, his life has been an adventure and he has had opportunities to travel and dance. The foundation of his teaching is based in the histories of each practice and musicality.
He moved to the capital city of Nairobi in October 2014, to look for more innovative and stimulating prospects. In 2016, he started a project with a friend named “Coming to your Hood” where he would teach Break dance to the community. He founded “Break Session”, hosting street dance battles in his home village of Mombasa. This encouraged his students to learn and acknowledge the origins of the music and dance style. He created a youth group, which eventually became a dance company.
He began studying yoga and became certified to teach in 2017. During his healing process meditation and yoga served as a great tool to overcome stress when others would tease him or feeling inadequate for being different.
Muhammad has taught nationally in Mombasa, Nairobi, Malindi and Voi and continues to organize dance and yoga workshops.
Muhammad finds great passion in teaching dance, yoga and acrobatic. He appreciates the opportunities to share his skills and knowledge with others, while also exchanging and learning. He not only feels empowered by never giving up and continuing to do what he loves despite his scar story. His experience has also allowed him to connect more deeply to his friends, family and colleagues.
