‘We’re born to be translators.’ A conversation with Outcasts from the 853

Fathima ‘Paji’ Mohamed and Iasmin Lumibao didn’t set out to create a global community of speakers of Cantonese as a second language – sharing everything from everyday idioms to street slang on their Outcasts from the 853 platform – but few are better suited to the task. The combination of multi-cultural backgrounds (Philippine-Brazilian in Lumibao’s case and Philippine-Sri Lankan in Mohamed’s), plus a childhood in Macao’s local school system, has given them a knack for entertaining – and educating – generations who relate to their stories and experience of the language. In this interview, we dive into their history, their podcast, and when we can find them back in town.