CONVIVENCIA: A SOLUTION TO THE HALAL/ PORK TENSION IN SPAIN?

Convivencia: ¿Una solución para la tensión halal/cerdo en España?

ABSTRACT

This work illuminates the connection between foodways and identity forging in Spain’s migration context. The concern of Moroccan and Pakistani Muslims over maintaining halal food practices conflicts with Spain’s reliance on and celebration of Iberian ham. This "two food cultures conflict," which I conceptualize as a halal/pork binary, can be traced back to the 15^th century Spanish reconquista. However, Moroccan restaurateurs’ current revival of the convivencia (coexistence) narrative, their emphasis on a collective Andaluzi identity, and tapasization and halalization of Moroccan-Muslim and Spanish foodways are possible solutions to this tension. This identity work in the restaurant allows them to reconcile the cultural, religious, and gastronomic tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims in Spain and rewrites halal foodways into the Spanish foodscape.

KEYWORDS:
Immigrants; identity; food; halal; Muslim