The fourth and final season of “Die Discounter” starts on Wednesday, November 27th. To the surprise of many experts, the reality soap became a real street sweeper, even if this term has lost its meaning in the age of smartphones and streaming. She captivated celebrities like Mats Hummels and Fahri Yardim onto the set and most recently won the German Television Prize. The angular and idiosyncratic main actors are in demand. They appear in other broadcast formats or in advertising. Marc Hosemann is currently allowed to reinterpret his role as branch manager Thorsten for Edeka. And Nura Habib Omer aka Flora sings with David Hasselhoff.
First of all: Congratulations on winning the German Television Award “Best Comedy Series”! What does such an award mean for the series and also for you?
Nura Habib Omer: Thank you very much! Well, I’m relatively new to the acting world and it definitely means a lot to me. But I don’t think now that I personally was honored as an actress. That’s what we got as an ensemble – and that includes, above all, the team behind the camera. At the same time, I also have mixed feelings about such award events. They’re all just very, very white. And then they wonder why it still stays white if they don’t let anyone into their club. Sometimes I feel like I’m just the quota that was invited. But sometimes the odds win.
The Berlin rapper, actress and bestselling author with Eritrean roots has long since established herself as a brand. Growing up in Germany, she fought her way through the male-dominated music and rap scene as a Muslim artist – whether as part of the hip-hop duo SXTN or as a solo artist with albums like Habibi. In her texts she positions herself against racism and for women’s rights. – Credit: Tatsiana Tribunalova
The fourth season of “Discounter” starts on November 27th – or just the first half. The last episodes will appear on December 23rd. Is this division better for production or for media coverage?
I’m not allowed to say anything about that – and in the end it’s not my decision, but the process is common, especially for streamers. But you’ll find out once you’ve watched it.
Okay, so just a teaser at this point. When you’re not working as an actress, how do you earn your money?
First and foremost, of course, with music, with collaborations and a lot with GEMA too, i.e. from SXTN and my own songs.
Do you also see yourself as a content creator or influencer?
I don’t yet know which corner I belong in. I’m definitely not a fashionista. And that’s just a random thing I always post (laughs). Most of the time it has nothing to do with music. This is just my private life. I really see myself as a private person who just has a few followers on Instagram or TikTok and they follow me for a bit of music, maybe a bit of acting. But mainly: Hey, what is she doing in her life? I think it’s more about personality.
Almost 400,000 on Instagram and over 400,000 on TikTok: Who are the people who follow you and your life on social media?
I think a lot of women. Lots of gays. Then I would say also a few from my culture. Maybe a few Muslim, Eritrean and generally black girls too. Then of course the traditional “discounter” fan and rap fan and that can really be any age. But yes, mostly girls and gays – I’m really happy about that too. So I can’t be prouder. So I’m kind of like Kris Jenner, who’s happy that her community is like her children (laughs).
Do you also look at which content works well and which doesn’t?
Yes, unfortunately for God. Whenever I post something political, I always have to post some kind of selfie of my face afterwards. This annoys me very often. Last year I traveled to Tanzania with Niko Backspin with SOS Children’s Villages. And then I said: Hey guys, it would be really cool if you could just react to the post. I rarely do that. And then so many people saw the story and didn’t react. And then I freaked out. I thought: You don’t even have to donate. You don’t even have to give me a cent. Just a second of your time. Then I just started insulting people on the internet. I made them feel guilty and I was also super disappointed in my community.
And did it work?
I then said: Guys, I never ask you about anything. But here I am really asking you to do something. And after that it was really good. I was very, very proud of everyone because we collected around 10,000 euros for SOS Children’s Villages in December. I wanted this as a birthday present and it worked. Emotional blackmail, but for a good cause.
It sounds like you have a very close connection to your community. How do you do that?
Full! My therapist tells me not to be online so much, but then I say: Yes, but they need me. Then she says: But that doesn’t work. We often have arguments about it (laughs). She follows me on Instagram, my mother on TikTok. I have something like the NSA everywhere. The news there moves me. For example, a girl wrote to me a few days ago saying that she had never won anything in her life. So if you do a competition at some point, let me know. Yeah, I’ll probably just send her something now. I can’t overlook something like that. And that’s why my therapist advises me to only read Instagram DMs for a certain period of time because she says: It’s killing you, you can’t always read everything, you can’t always help everyone. You are not responsible for their happiness. And that’s what I’m learning in my therapy. I’m a very big people pleaser. That’s the problem.
“Looking for Schnitzel”: Nura and David Hasselhoff for Uber Eats
You’re currently promoting Uber Eats. How do you decide which collaborations to enter into and which not?
I decide based on whether it suits me as a person. I order from Uber Eats every day. So really. When they came to me with the request and then with David Hasselhoff, I knew straight away that it was a good fit. Well, I was born in 88 (even if you can’t tell) and grew up with “Knight Rider” and “Baywatch” – with the Arabic dubbing voice. That was pretty awesome. Sometimes I do things to make my mom think I’m cool. But with Uber Eats it just clicked: I could write the song, I could talk about food, which I like to do anyway.
What kind of feedback do you get from your followers with such content?
So there was no negative feedback. Just two or three comments on Uber Eats, for example, along the lines of: Hey, why are you promoting meat? I can completely understand it, but in the end everyone should like it – for example, I think it’s completely okay if someone eats vegan, eats vegetarian or sometimes eats good meat. It’s much nicer if we celebrate it together.
At the end of an Insta spot you say: Woe betide anyone who says it’s staged.
Yes, I don’t do staged things. I also don’t record things twice. I always say: Hey, ask me these questions now, I’ll give you the answer straight away.
If companies want to work with you, should the content fit?
For example, I don’t work with Axel Springer Verlag at all. I don’t work with any Nazis or homophobes – I think that’s clear. So just the usual, it has to suit me and what I do in my life.
In your book you write that music is perfect for expressing oneself politically and: “Especially since my political opinion is actually not a political opinion at all. Being against racism and for human rights should be a given in my eyes.”
Yes, but that’s all somehow. Then I think to myself: If you all had the same thought, why don’t you say the thought? People listen to me less. I need my white allies next to me. That’s what annoys me a little bit about activism – that you expect a lot more from marginalized groups than from white people.
Would you also like companies to position themselves more?
Yes, companies and brands as well. I would just like that they don’t just do some specials for Black History Month and Pride Month, but maybe the whole year is Pride Month and Black History Month and attitudes are really lived. Of course, I also realize that brands also have to sell products and have a certain agenda…
Short either/or round: TikTok or Instagram?
TikTok. On Instagram I see Reels with the same TikTok content three months later.
Music or acting?
Music.
Rapping or singing?
Sing.
Order food or go to a restaurant – or cook?
This is very difficult. So always order food in one, cook in two. And I hardly ever go to restaurants.
Spontaneous or strategic?
Always spontaneous. I don’t know any strategy. I’m not the kind of person who thinks about things. I wish I was a strategist, dude. But God didn’t want to.
Looks like it will work that way too.
Yes, just intuition. And that has already brought me a long way. I really make my decisions based on feeling. And then of course think about it again.
How do you imagine an ideal future for the media landscape?
I would like to see neutral reporting and less agitation. This question has come up many times in my career and every time I have said: I would like people to be woker and stuff like that, but that’s not possible. Either you are a person who is aware or you are not. I don’t tell anyone what to do. In the end, if you don’t do it from a pure heart, you’re going to hell anyway. We can’t do anything.
Do you think more people or companies would position themselves if there were fewer hurdles?
Someone always has to demonstrate. Last year people wanted me dead and now people are sliding into my DMs and saying: Hey, sorry, sorry. There always has to be someone brave. But I don’t always want to be that way. I just wish someone else would do it. Maybe just an Ally, an allied person. Not someone who is suffering right now. And I’m not even safe here in Germany. I don’t have a German passport. I could be expelled for saying anything against the Israeli government and I still go to demonstrations. Still, I hold my head. My hands have calluses. I can’t keep doing this shit all the time. Other people have to get involved.
You’re referring to that one Instagram-Post with an excerpt from your music video from October 2023, right? Would you like to say something else about that?
Enough has already been said. Well, I don’t always want to explain myself. What sick person in this world wants children to die? And I haven’t said a single word about it in my entire career. That’s why it’s weird that people would want to pin something like that on me. But either people think something bad about me, then that’s fine. Or people check it and see okay, someone was extremely misunderstood. I am in favor of every person having rights.
How does Nura’s experience demonstrate the potential dilemmas surrounding authenticity and emotional vulnerability in the influencer space, particularly when advocating for social causes?
Here is a breakdown of the Nura interview, divided into thematic sections with open-ended questions designed to spark discussion and consider diverse perspectives:
**1. Authenticity and Social Media**
* Nura describes a tense moment when she used “emotional blackmail” to raise funds.
* **Discussion:** Is there a line between vulnerability and manipulation when soliciting support online? How do influencers ethically leverage their platforms for personal causes?
* Nura’s therapist expresses concern about her online engagement. How can someone balance genuine connection with protecting their mental wellbeing online?
* Nura emphasizes the importance of spontaneity over strategy in her career. Can authenticity thrive alongside strategic decision-making?
**2. Activism and Responsibility**
* Nura criticizes the expectation that marginalized groups should shoulder the responsibility for activism. What role should allies play in advocating for social change?
* She calls for year-round commitment to values like inclusivity, rather than token gestures during specific months. How can companies and individuals demonstrate genuine allyship beyond performative actions?
* Nura expresses frustration about being targeted for her political beliefs. What are the risks and rewards of utilizing a platform for outspoken advocacy?
**3. The Media Landscape and Representation**
* Nura desires a media landscape characterized by neutral reporting and less agitation. What are the challenges in achieving unbiased reporting, especially in an age of polarized opinions?
* She expresses hope for more diversity and representation in the media. How can we ensure more voices are heard and represented accurately?
**4. Finding Balance: Personal Growth and Public Persona**
* Nura is torn between wanting to be a voice for change and feeling depleted by negativity. How can individuals engaged in public activism find ways to sustain themselves emotionally?
* She talks about the “calluses” on her hands from activism — a powerful image. What are the tangible and intangible sacrifices involved in fighting for social justice?
**Additional Discussion Points:**
* The interview touches on Nura’s intersecting identities as a musician, influencer, and activist. How do these roles influence one another?
* Nura’s career reflects her strong connection to her community. How can artists and creatives build meaningful relationships with their audience?
* The interview concludes with Nura affirming her commitment to human rights and individual freedoms. What does this statement mean in a global context, particularly given current political tensions?
By exploring these questions, we can engage in a thoughtful and nuanced discussion about Nura’s experiences, the broader societal issues she raises, and the role of art and activism in shaping our world. Let me know what other aspects stood out to you.