In March, April and May 2012 the production Un Dhikri Pour Nos Morts plays in the Comoros. The Prince Claus Fund supported this production of Washko Ink's. This Comoros’ based organisation was founded by Soeuf Elbadawi and focuses on citizenship and culture and development. Washko Ink.’s first theatre production La fanfare des fous was also supported by the Prince Claus Fund in 2009. The production was well received by the public.

The current play is inspired by the Sufi tradition of dayira and dhikri practiced in the Comoros since the 19th century. The tradition, that sometimes is the closure of a mourning ritual, is about the memory of souls of illustrious brothers or near relatives that have disappeared..Soeuf Elbadawi referes in the show to the dhikri soufi tradition to reflect on the dead caused by a political contemporary crisis between France and Comoros.

The Comores
The archipelago island nation which is situated between the African East Coast and Madagascar, is one of the poorest countries in the world. Since the declaration of independance in 1975, the country has lived under permanent political instability, linked mainly to the France political interference. There were more than twenty coups of attempted, than most of them has been orchestred by the French mercenary Bob Denard. After the declaration of independence one of the four island of the archipelago, Mayotte, staid French despite of international condemnation by the African Union and the UN (United Nations). More than twenty resolutions of UN condemned France considering it occupies illegally the Island of Mayotte, which become since march 2011 a French department.

Because of family relationships, common interest and habits, the inhabitants of this country need to circulate permanently between their four islands but for evident political reasons French condition since 1995 the entrance to Mayotte by getting a visa, a visa infamously known under the name “Visa Balladur” (Balladur used to be French prime minister in the nineteen’s). This visa, delivered by French embassy is almost impossible to receive by comoriens. The situation forced the people to do the crossing between Mayotte and the other islands in boat called “Kwasa Kwasa. Purssued by the French border patrol, the boats cape size causing many death. Militants against Visa Balladur talk today about 15.000 to 18 000 deads. They plan to attack France on the International Court for population deportation because of expulsion from Mayotte of all non french Comoriens (almost 30 % of Mayotte inhabitants are considered Illegal by French authority ). The international law considers Mayotte belongs to Comoros Union, not to France.

“A dhikri for our deads”, this new theatre production by the troup O Mcezo*, under the seal Washko Ink, addresses this human tragedy. Soeuf Elbadawi, author, stage director and actor, aims at provoking reflection among the public and raise awareness on thousands of people who die in Kwasa Kwasa, a real haermorrhage for the country. More than 15.000 deads (equivalent of 1,5 % of overall population) died because of this visa France has till yet refused to cancel. In this project Soeuf Elbadawi is collaborating with his theatre company O Mcezo and together they intend to stir a renewal of citizen’s reflection and use theatre as a tool for resistance against a domination situation. They state that theatre can trigger collective reflection by nurturing those who are working towards the creation of new alternatives.

After the first public rehearsals on 28 and 29 February 2012, the show “A dhikri for our deads” has been played in Muzdlaifa House, experimental cultural and artistic creation venue settled by washko Ink in Moroni till 20 March and from 16 April till 15 May and be on tour to Mirontsy in Anjouan (one of the other island of the archipelago) between 5 April and 14 April. To enlarge the audience, the troup is doing “happening” or “steet performances” too called PIR (Quick Intervention Prayer) in villages.