In episode five, Zara speaks to Wafa Aouchiche, founder of Burgundy Roots, about their retreats in Jamaica. We talk about the Jamaican Muslim community and the ‘Ras-Mus’ (Rasta-Muslims), and the connections between the Caribbean & Algerian revolutionaries.
We discuss the negative impact of foreign-owned island resorts and some of the problems Jamaica faces; the importance of meaningful travel, and whether Muslim travellers are compromising on experience of the sake of halal food.
WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE
- Why Wafa decided to host retreats in Jamaica
- Connections between Algerian revolutionaries and the Caribbean
- Frantz Fanon, psychiatrist, philosopher, revolutionary, and writer from the French colony of Martinique, whose works are influential in the fields of post-colonial studies, critical theory, and Marxism.
- The negative impact of foreign-owned island resorts- and the importance of promoting sustainable, ethical travel practises
- Some of the problems with debt faced by Jamaica and others
- Muslim community of Jamaica and its converts
- The ‘Ras-Mus’ – Rasta-Muslims
- Jamaica as “one of the best and freest places to be Muslim.”
- The ‘halal’ travel industry and whether Muslim travellers and compromising experience for the sake of halal food.
- Why its important for travellers to get out of their comfort zones.
- Are people willing to pay more for the sake of more meaningful and ethical travel experiences?
- Wafa shares which cities had the most impact on her as a Muslim traveller.
LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE
- Burgundy Roots – Wafa’s organisation offering ‘sustainable community tourism’ with retreats in Jamaica and Morocco.
- Burgundy Roots Instagram
- Wafa Aouchiche Instagram
- Wafa’s ‘Halal Travel’ Story mentioned in the episode.