The only way to successfully poke fun at a group of people is when it is done by people belonging to that group. If outsiders try, it can come across as racist, bigoted, and/or derogatory.

And it’s really cool to see that a group of Capetonians are doing it right, by finding a “tasteful” way to bring humour to the city’s Cape Malay Muslims during Ramadan.

It all began around three weeks ago when the holy month started. Yaaseen Barnes and his friend Malik Abarder created a “Muslim version of Cyanide and Happiness” – titled Daltjies & Kapparangs.

Barnes, a comedian, had started with a series of cartoons and then suggested they turn it into an animation. So far, the two have release four episodes and they are kak funny, especially if you are in tune with the local Muslim culture.

Barnes had some stuff to say:

We always tread the line of making fun of the people rather than making of the religion. That’s what we always try and focus on. It’s a story that we all know from the community. It’s also jokes that have been around for a while, and jokes that we come up with. We take concepts that exist and we just go all out with it.

We’re Cape Town boys. We’re born and raised on the Cape Flats, it’s part of who we are. Cape Town raised me to think like this, and this is our way of giving back.

ʾĀmīn to that.

Along with four others who do voices, puppeteering, and writing and editing, the group have been working for the love of animation.

And, although it was just an idea for the Ramadan period, they have decided to continue with the “passion project”as they are genuinely surprised with the response:

We just want to put funny out. We’ve actually had sheikhs and imams phoning us to say the videos are funny.

Here’s some more info:

According to Barnes, the ticket to success has been the inside jokes within Muslim communities – particularly the Cape Malay community – that the series plays off.

The group’s most widely shared video, Episode 3, is a parody of notorious reality TV series Cheaters, revamped into a Ramadan edition called Eaters.

Barnes also likens the title to a parody of luxury Italian fashion brand Dolce and Gabbana.

Food, religion and parody, how can you go wrong?

Follow them here and remember, local is lekker.

[source: mg]