Sacred Reflections: Big Zuu's Spiritual Odyssey Unveiled In Exclusive Interview

Embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening with TV chef and rapper Big Zuu as he shares his transformative experiences from the captivating documentary, "Big Zuu Goes To Mecca." Airing on Sunday, April 14th at 9pm on iPlayer and BBC Two, this documentary offers a rare glimpse into the heart of Islam through Zuu's pilgrimage to Mecca.

With a heritage deeply intertwined with the faith, Zuu's exploration becomes a deeply personal quest for spiritual connection and self-discovery. Join us as we delve into an exclusive interview with Zuu, where he offers poignant insights into the challenges, revelations, and significance of his journey, and how it has shaped his perspective on faith and identity.

Interview with Big Zuu

What did you learn from making the documentary and going to Mecca?

I definitely learned being in front of the Kaaba, the House of God, in the Grand Mosque, is something you really need to experience to understand the beauty of Islam.

Walking around the Kaaba with my friends, the feeling in my heart was just pure, pure bliss. Words cannot describe how happy I felt at that time, I felt so pure. I felt so relieved of everything. I felt so connected to so many different people and it was just such a beautiful moment.

When you pray in a congregation, when you pray with a lot of people, when you perform a religious act with a such a big group of people, that energy you feel is real. There's nothing that can tell me it's not. It was overwhelming, it just felt so good.

What can we expect from the documentary?

Big Zuu Goes To Mecca is a documentary where I learn about my faith and perform a pilgrimage in Islam which is called Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan. It was really emotional, I learned a lot about myself and it was something that I feel like I needed in life. I feel so lucky to go on this process and I'm very happy it's been documented and that people can watch it.

Why did you decide to do the documentary?

I decided to do the documentary for a combination of things. It was at a time in my life where my relationship with my faith was very up and down. So I think exploring that was something I wanted to be able to do. You really see me change over the course of the documentary and that was a real life change, I still carry that with me to this day. I'm very lucky that that such a poignant moment in my life was able to be captured I hope it will inspire others.

How much do you think your faith has changed since your pilgrimage?

There's definitely been a big change in terms of my spirituality since the pilgrimage. I think it made me become closer to God. Sometimes with the parameters of religion, you don't understand it until you go through it. I didn't grow up following all the rules of Islam, I didn't follow every single strict regimen that you were supposed to do. So going through the steps required to perform Umrah and the discipline it gave me, that is what I loved the most about it.

Your mum is from Sierra Leone and your dad is from Lebanon. Did growing up with parents who have two different cultures affect how you look at faith?

My dad comes from a very religious background, whereas I’ve been raised with my mum being more spiritual, more into faith than religion ­– so I've kind of been raised with both spectrums. My mum always raised me to be God fearing, whereas my dad is more strict on what it means to be a good Muslim. They both really had an impact on where I’m at now ­– I think I have a little blend of both.

What were some of the challenges of performing Umrah?

Cutting my hair was definitely the number one challenge in my mind. What it taught me was that vanity is such a real thing because I cared so much about my Ihram (the spiritual clothing worn on pilgrimage) and cutting my hair. Those are the two things I should care about the least. I'm so used to focusing on my image and how I look. I'm a humble person, but I like to look nice. So in that moment I was thinking “Is my towel going to fall down?”, “Is my head going to look mad when I cut my hair?” All of these things were going through my mind and when I got there and those are the most minor things.

My hair is my power. Especially as a black man, your hair is your power, and I had to let go of that identity and realise that I'm doing this for a higher purpose. I'm cutting my hair to show that I am one with everyone. We're all the same.

Why do you think this documentary is important?

We need to have different perspectives on religion in society. Especially in the public eye or in broadcasting, I feel like sometimes, when you think of Islam, you think of a Sheikh in religious clothing who is very humble. And that definitely represents a part of Islam, but it comes in different shapes and sizes, different people, different ideologies, there are so many different sides to it. I feel like it's good to have that representation.

With my being in the music and entertainment world, you might not associate Islam with me. And I think what was good about doing this documentary is that people might be able to look at me in a different light.

What do you hope people will take away from a documentary?

I hope what people take away from the documentary is that there is no true form of what it is to be religious, it’s just about who you are and what you care about. From the outside looking in, you wouldn't think I was a religious guy, but I performed one the most religious things you could do in Islam. You’re never too many steps away from being able to be good within your faith, you just have to have that intention. And I'm very lucky through my job that I was able to go to this experience of Umrah. Everyone is religious in their own way, it's just about how you express that.

As we draw the curtains on our conversation with Big Zuu, we're left inspired by his profound journey and enriched by his introspective reflections. Don't miss the opportunity to witness the transformative narrative unfold in "Big Zuu Goes To Mecca," airing on Sunday, April 14th at 9pm on iPlayer and BBC Two. Join us in experiencing the soul-stirring exploration of faith and cultural heritage that promises to resonate deeply with audiences. Thank you, Big Zuu, for sharing your story and shedding light on the power of spiritual awakening.