"I used to say I'm really pessimistic and stuff, but I think my optimism is more refusing to accept the way things are and believing that this is not the only option."
Tuesday 4 June 2024, Canterbury High Street, United Kingdom
Who are we talking to? Imane
Who is the interviewer? Hyla
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HYLA: What are you passionate about and why?
IMANE: Okay well, this was like the hardest question when I read the question but I think there's not a specific thing I'm like more passionate about, it's very like more of a state of mind or something like this I'd say. I've been passionate about different things and trying new experiences. I had an anecdote about this, because last time I went in London and it was in a jewelry shop, there was this man making jewelry—really interesting. He started talking to us like, “Oh, you look like you're doing art, you look like you're creative,” and we started talking about so many different things, because I don't really consider myself a creative person generally, like not an artist or something like this.
But we ended up talking. I showed him like some of the collages I made for POCAS, for instance. We talked as well about politics, and then he told me, “Wow, you're actually more passionate than you pretend to be about things,” and I thought it was interesting that he said that. And he told me, “Well, you're still young. You can still stay sort of hidden for now, but you need to open up more to the world about what you do and what you're passionate about.” And he really inspired me to just do stuff.
HYLA: That's a cool story. I know you collage and you paint a bit too, like have you always been doing these creative things? When did it start?
IMANE: I think, you know, when we're in kindergarten, we all, we are all creative, we're all doing drawings and stuff, and I guess, you know, when we get older, we just are busy with other things and it's not as encouraged, as it is when you're a child. But I feel like for me, I just kept on doing these things in the same way, as I was doing it as a child. I'm not taking this too seriously, or thinking of making a career out of it or anything like this. It's really just a creative process that you know, I just have fun in the same way I did when I was a child. And yeah, I think also like my parents have encouraged me to pursue those things as well.
HYLA: That was my next question, is your family creative and did they encourage you to be creative?
IMANE: Yeah, I would say sort of like me, like my dad, for example, he plays guitar. My mom loves the little creative workshops or activities, so they sort of encouraged me to do this, even though they're not like artists I would say. Like it's not their main activity but that's always something they were making on the side and encouraged me to do as well.
"I have a nickname, it's Mimina...[my mom has] been calling me this forever."
HYLA: What was your dream job as a child?
IMANE: (Laughs) I did not dream of a job when I was a child. I wanted to be like a singer, like a pop star. That's quite basic, but that's the only thing I could think of when I'm thinking of having a job. Whenever I discover, and I'm still like this, whenever I discover a job or a career or something that seems interesting, that seems so cool. Like I want to do so many different things at the same time. It’s not like I have one dream objective.
HYLA: You just approach things that you like and that excite you.
IMANE: Yeah.
HYLA: How does it feel to think about your future or just the future?
IMANE: That's a big question. I'd say I'm more optimistic now as well. To me this is also related to politics a lot. I feel like our generation is really like…I don't know…I have faith in us. You know, I'm not like thinking, “Oh, this is just going downhill and we just everything will be chaotic.” I think you know, when I look around me, like my friends and just people around like, for example, like societies on campus, all that stuff, I think we're all like building something that's very interesting and promising. And yeah, everyone just has their little, their passion as well that they're trying to pursue.
Yeah, and this is also related to, like me being a communist. We often say, like we are organized optimists as communists because we believe that this society and the limits that we have are not the only possibility, and I think that's why I say I'm an optimist. I used to say I'm really pessimistic and stuff, but I think my optimism is more refusing to accept the way things are and believing that this is not the only option.
HYLA: We can talk more about the communist thing in a bit. But yeah, I want to ask why, like because you said, “Now I'm more optimistic,” like, what changed? What has made you more optimistic? How did you go from pessimist to optimist?
IMANE: Yeah, I think I just opened up to more, in general, to other people's stories, other people's activities, passions. But also just learning about communism, past revolutions and history. It made me realize that obviously the main idea that is pushed forward is that there's no other other option. There's no other alternative. This is, this is just the way it is and we can't change things. And yeah, just opening up to those new ideas made me change.
HYLA: Do you feel better like thinking that way, like does it feel like a healthier mindset? Do you think you'll change? (laughs) You'll probably change. Sorry, I'm asking so many questions.
IMANE: I think it is definitely better because, obviously, if you think actually there is something else, we can create a better society where we can actually pursue our creative stuff the way we want. Not having all of those barriers is very good, because I mean for once you say, “Okay, there's a plan, there's something we can do as well.” Which I think changes everything.
HYLA: What's your proudest accomplishment?
IMANE: That's hard. I don't think there's like one or two specific things. I need to improve on being proud of what I do as well, but that's another thing. I think because it's the end of term. I've been thinking of the past two years that I've spent here in the U.K. and I realised like I'm proud of how I've changed and how I've progressed as well. Obviously not just on the academic side of things, because I think that's the most important or the best accomplishment actually, but more on the social aspect, opening up to new things, just growing up in general.
HYLA: I like that, like you're proud of yourself for growing. That's lovely. That's a really good answer. What's something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time, but you haven't done so already?
IMANE: I think learning how to play an instrument like that's very specific. Getting into music because I never had the opportunity to actually pursue anything in music really or never picked an instrument and like learn how to play it or anything. So that's something I need to do.
HYLA: Do you have an instrument in mind?
IMANE: It keeps on changing, like it changed a few times, but I think guitar for sure. I think that's the instrument I’d like to start with. I think it's very challenging as well to learn an instrument and requires a lot of discipline, which I need to also improve on, I think in general.
HYLA: Do you struggle with discipline?
IMANE: I think so. I think that's one of the main things I need to improve on, because it links everything together. Especially when you wanna, I mean, you want to do something, but to arrive to that point you need to actually put a routine in place or do the little thing you know every day. I'm very unfocused and go in different places. So, it’s not only the best.
HYLA: Have you always been like that, like since you were younger? Just your mind's everywhere?
IMANE: Yeah, I think so. I’m really chaotic in a way.
HYLA: Similar to how you want to learn an instrument and guitar makes sense because you like a lot of rock music–what are some songs you've been listening to lately and why?
IMANE: Lately I've been listening to a lot of Hole, the band. I always come back to those groups like it's really weird. But when I like a genre or some type of music in general, I like get obsessed and then sort of move on and always like come back and it's really funny. So now I'm in my grungy period again. “Why?” It's a more difficult question. I think I really like this band because of the subjects they talk about, obviously the sound of the music and the anger as well.
HYLA: It's like feminine rage. Does that resonate with you?
IMANE: (Laughing) I guess. Yeah, I think so In a way or another. I haven't really thought about it. Yeah, I really like the Riot Grrrl movement as well. I know Hole isn't really part of it. The singer, Courtney Love, like sort of criticised it a lot, which I understand, and she's a very controversial character. But more about the music, yeah I like this movement. I'm going to see Bikini Kill as well next week, so I'm so excited.
HYLA: Also like rock, especially grunge, it was the alternative, like subculture music, anti-establishment, like it's a bit punk-leaning and it kind of relates to how you're a communist. I think it was interesting. Like, do you think your music taste overlaps with your political taste?
IMANE: For sure. I think so, yeah definitely. And you see it with a lot of different genres that emerge as a protest, as a contest like against the establishment from minority groups and all. And you see it, in a lot of cases this music ended up being like when it became pop, when it becomes popular, it becomes and not because it is popular but because, you know, there's like the big industry basically behind it, labels and stuff that make it a product. And you see a lot of artists that are sort of against this, but it's hard when you're not. It's like how can you make your music if you're not within the system? That's something you see, you know, even with grunge and different genres like this.
"At school, I always had a friend I'm laughing all day with. Sometimes they’re tired of us, the duo, being always unserious."
HYLA: Do you have a nickname?
IMANE: Yes, I was thinking about this, this question. I realized I have a nickname, it's Mimina.
HYLA: Where does it come from?
IMANE: That’s my mom that sort of made it up I don't even because it's been forever, like she's been calling me this forever. I think it comes from just my name. That sounds like Imane, Mimi, Mimina, sort of. But there's also this cartoon called "Mimi La Souris." In French it's like “Mimi the mouse.” It's like a cute little mouse. I think I was very tiny when I was a child as well, so maybe that also comes from this. It's so weird because I had to think about this question, because I don't even realize that's a nickname anymore. Like it's organic yeah, that's like my name (Laughs).
HYLA: How do you feel when you're called it?
IMANE: It's usually my very close family, so it's just natural. But I think if someone else called me this now I would be surprised.
HYLA: Average wake up, slash bedtime and bedtime.
IMANE: There's no average, chaotic (laughs). I always try to wake up early because otherwise I feel like I'm missing out on the day, but then I end up being tired and staying up late and it changes. I think that's where I need to start with the discipline: sleeping schedule.
HYLA: What's something that's been on your mind recently?
IMANE: I think I've just been thinking more generally about how these two years have been, what I'm going to do later, how I've changed as well, how I want to incorporate all the things I've learned into my life and into the plan, basically.
HYLA: Describe yourself in three words.
IMANE: I'll reuse the chaotic, not in a necessarily bad way, but it's just very hectic, restless, but in a good way. It can be good and it can be bad. Not to use funny, because I can understand I'm not funny for everyone, but yeah, I just like to laugh. Like is hard and just laughing makes the day better. At school, I always had a friend I'm laughing all day with. Sometimes they’re tired of us, the duo, being always unserious. Sometimes life is just so hard. You just want to have fun. I think laughing is very important. Intense or passionate, both in the positive and negative way. Yeah, of that word like intense. Just a lot, you're a lot. That's what I hear.
HYLA: So you said chaotic, funny and passionate or intense. Okay, all right, any final words? This has been a really lovely interview. Anything else?
IMANE: Thank you. Yeah, I just want to thank you guys for letting me do this.
HYLA: Thank you for being a part of it.
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Photographers: Dante Richardson & Paolo
Photo editor: Dante Richardson
Photoshoot assistants: Hyla Etame, Vanessa Mbeko, & Jolanda Oruni
Interview editor: Hyla Etame
