Whispers of Tradition is a research project supported by the Arts Council DYCP grant, exploring the folk tales of Ireland and Morocco – two cultures deeply connected to Laila Latifa’s heritage. The project investigates how these stories have shifted over time, the role of women within them, and how folklore continues to shape identity, memory, and belonging today.
As part of the research, Laila travelled across Morocco and Ireland, visiting cities, rural villages, and coastal towns to uncover local storytelling traditions. In Morocco, she spent time in Casablanca, Essaouira and Tangier, speaking with storytellers, scholars and community members about myths such as Aisha Kandisha and the Cemetery Mule. In Ireland, she explored the folklore of the Banshee, the Selkies, and other mythic figures, gathering tales passed down through generations.
Combining interviews, archival research, and first-hand experience, Whispers of Tradition has led to a range of creative outcomes. These include a script-in-progress, a zine, and other storytelling experiments that reimagine traditional folk tales for a contemporary audience.
This project reflects an ongoing commitment to preserving oral history while reworking it through a modern, diasporic lens – keeping the spirit of these stories alive, while letting them evolve.
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