Spoken word poet and performer Fatima Moumouni argues that Switzerland is a country with a strong focus on security. However, this sense of national security often stems from instability elsewhere. She also explores how ideas of cleanliness are closely tied to notions of security.

In 2019, Fatima Moumouni started a series of talks first titled “The End of Security” and later renamed “The New Insecurity”. The series is designed as a space where people can safely explore their insecurities and put into question not only others’ certainties but also their own. It makes the case that uncertainty and insecurity can actually be a good thing.

Moumouni reflects on the risks of self-righteousness when it comes to national security, welfare and cleanliness. One major downside of the uncritical belief in Switzerland’s national institutions is a reluctance to acknowledge mistakes or critically examine the systems responsible for safety. Instead, the series calls for attention to the moments when things break down, and to the power structures that protect some while leaving others exposed, such as racialised migrants who die in police custody.

Watch the video with Serena O. Dankwa and Fatima Moumouni and then write down your thoughts on the questions in the box below.

The interview is in German. You can download both German and translated English transcripts below.

Author: Serena O. Dankwa

References

Moumouni, F. (2019). Das Ende der Sicherheit. Talk-Reihe mit Spoken Word-Poetin Fatima Moumouni und Gästen. Theater Neumarkt, Zürich.

Moumouni, F. Die neue Unsicherheit (Disco Edition). Gessnerallee, Zürich.

Moumouni, F. (2019). Zugfahren. In M. Wa Baile, S. O. Dankwa, T. Naguib, P. Purtschert, S. Schilliger (Eds.), Racial Profiling: Struktureller Rassismus und antirassistischer Widerstand (p. 173-175). transcript Verlag.

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