Bouchra Khalili’s 'The Speeches Series' Examines Migration and Identity in Europe

In an essay for Afterall, Nick Aikens explores Bouchra Khalili's video trilogy, 'The Speeches Series' (2012-13), which tackles migration, citizenship, and political identity through migrant narratives. The series consists of three parts: 'Mother Tongue' (2012), 'Words on Streets' (2013), and 'Living Labour' (2013). In 'Mother Tongue,' migrants in Paris read works by figures like Malcolm X and Aimé Césaire in their native tongues, including Moroccan Arabic. 'Words on Streets' captures migrants in Genoa discussing belonging in Italian, while 'Living Labour' features undocumented workers in New York delivering speeches in English, French, and Spanish about labor rights. Khalili's work sheds light on the gap between official citizenship and actual nationality, connecting with Europe’s colonial history and the rise of nationalist movements. This essay was published on January 5, 2015.