JEDDAH: American singer Alicia Keys took her place in the recent third “Women to Women” initiative in Jeddah, alongside influential Saudi women such as DJ Cosmicat (Nouf Sufyani); Mishaal Ashemimry, aerospace engineer and commercial pilot; visual artist Huda Beydoun; Noura bin Saidan, a street artist; and Raha Moharrak, the first Saudi woman to scale Mount Everest.
Organized by MDLBEAST on International Women’s Day, the event aimed to unite female leaders and focus on how they can drive cultural progress both in Saudi Arabia and globally.
The diverse group of women shared their experiences in their respective fields, while looking at the challenges they overcame for success.
They looked at what it means to be a woman challenging norms and overcoming obstacles, sharing the inspirations that drove their remarkable accomplishments.
Keys said: “(I’m) so excited to be together. What inspires me is humanity, people; real-life experiences inspire me. Those are the things I write songs about, those are the things that connect me and us.
“It’s all about experiencing life. Meeting new people in this event is such an inspiration (and) to be able to engage in the conversation. My journey has been unique: raised by a single mother who is a rock to me. The will to achieve and discover, to keep going, can happen by trusting yourself.
“The biggest lesson that I would like to share is to keep going. Learn from failure and grow from it.”
She added: “I always keep telling myself to keep trying, and even if it doesn’t work out, at least I tried. I would like to avoid the pressure that I placed on myself and instead believe in personally deciding what is important to me and what success means to me.
“Success, to me, is being an authentic, genuine person who is good-natured, good-hearted, and kind to people, bringing positivity to others. Even if I can positively impact just one person, that is most important to me. It’s all about spreading positivity.”
Keys, who has won 15 Grammys and sold 90 million records worldwide, is renowned for her achievements in music and her dedication to activism, entrepreneurship, and wellness initiatives. She is actively engaged with her beauty brand, Keys Soulcare.
Ashemimry, who draws inspiration from her birth city of Qassim and her childhood fascination with the stars, also shared her journey and insights during the event.
She said: “I wanted to learn deeper about space and the only way to do it was to build rockets. When you are a child, you don’t understand, and breaking stereotypes was very challenging.”
Encouraging others to pursue their own dreams, Ashemimry spoke about her unexpected path to becoming the first Saudi female aerospace engineer and commercial pilot. She added: “In my case, when I had inspiration, I never thought I would be the first. I had the passion to just follow it. When I knew that I was the first Saudi, I felt huge responsibility on my shoulders toward the public.
“So I started social media accounts talking about space and technology development. I had difficulty in Arabic. I had a fear that I wouldn’t be able to explain myself better. But, later on, I started to talk about space by simplifying it in Arabic ... when I spoke about my inspiration, hardships I went through, being away from my family, the struggles, sacrifices to be a rocket scientist, and the history of rockets.
“The impact I left with the content I created was really inspiring to the audience, which motivated me to keep encouraging people to aspire.”
Moharrak, reflecting on her journey and the challenges she faced, said: “The emotional and mental challenge that you don’t fit in is very challenging, and that’s something no one teaches.
“I am so proud that now more and more women are breaking the norm. In my story, the challenge was mentality and (that was) also the biggest driver. If we don’t change the narratives and the story, then who will?
“Yes, I have climbed Mount Everest, but every single woman has an Everest to climb in daily life. It’s about continually proving to yourself that you are capable of achieving extraordinary things and overcoming challenges. So don’t let anyone make you feel that you cannot climb your Everest.”
Other members of the panel shared their sources of inspiration and the paths they took to achieve success, while also discussing strategies for overcoming the negative opinions of others and people’s perceptions.
Rozana Al-Banawi, an entrepreneur specializing in professional training and coaching, conducted sessions with her team to engage the audience, facilitating activities focusing on leadership skills and self-development, creating an interactive and enriching experience for those attending.
American singer Alicia Keys joins Saudi trailblazers in ‘Women to Women’ initiative in Jeddah
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American singer Alicia Keys joins Saudi trailblazers in ‘Women to Women’ initiative in Jeddah
- Organized by MDLBEAST on International Women’s Day, the event aimed to unite female leaders and focus on how they can drive cultural progress both in Saudi Arabia and globally
- The diverse group of women shared their experiences in their respective fields, while looking at the challenges they overcame for success
Saudi Arabia’s cultural renaissance under spotlight at Riyadh forum
- Muntada gathering brings together 24 creatives to explore facets of Kingdom’s arts and culture developments
RIYADH: A five-day cultural forum organized by Fenaa Alawwal in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, and co-curated by Afikra, is exploring the theme “Introspection: the role of contemporary art practices in a time of change.”
The inaugural Muntada Forum of Contemporary Art Practices opened on Sunday night and will have five panel discussions during its run until Sept. 19.
There are 24 creatives exploring a diverse range of topics, which includes the role of Saudi Arabia’s artists in shaping the Kingdom’s global image.
There will be discussions on Saudi Arabia’s youth culture involving music, street art and fashion; the role of art professionals: navigating creativity in a structural setup; cultural hubs: the emergence of urban art districts; and the intersection of food and art.
The bumper-to-bumper traffic in Riyadh was not a deterrent for art enthusiasts, curators and interested locals from attending the opening at the building built in 1988.
The venue was designed by Omrania architecture company, as a part of Alawwal Bank’s Riyadh branch in the landmark Diplomatic Quarter.
Every seat was occupied during the first panel which was titled “Soft power: Saudi artists’ role in shaping the Kingdom’s global image.”
It was moderated by curator Sara Al-Mutlaq with speakers, Ahmed Mater, a doctor-turned-artist, and Alia Al-Senussi, a cultural strategist, art patron and academic.
Al-Senussi told Arab News after the talk: “What we have really been able to embrace is the idea, (as) Ahmed Mater said, that it’s up to the artist to remove the power from the conversation.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The inaugural Muntada Forum of Contemporary Art Practices opened on Sunday night and will have five panel discussions during its run until Sept. 19.
• Muntada will conclude with a performance by culinary storyteller and social media sensation Nadir Nahdi.
• The first panel was titled ‘Soft power: Saudi artists’ role in shaping the Kingdom’s global image.’
“And soft power, in its kind of whole and holistic way, is really about translating who people are to the rest of the world.”
Mater, who is working on a new book slated for publication later this year, discussed how events over the past 45 years, starting with 1979 — his birth year — changed the course of the world, a topic which he will explore in his latest work.
He explained that each decade since 1979 has had events with major ramifications on the local and international fronts, which included the revolution in Iran and the seizure of Makkah.
He also referred to events from the 1980s up to the present day, which include the Gulf War, 9/11, the Arab Spring and the rise of social media, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There was a big change happening in Saudi Arabia during these decades. I spoke about art as a mirror for sociopolitical events and the culture of changing and that’s what shapes our narrative, our story, our strength — by telling our story that shapes our life and our memory,” Mater told Arab News.
On opening night, curator Maya El-Khalil and Saudi Arabia artist Moath Alofi offered their insights in their keynote speeches.
Other speakers to come include Hala Al-Hedeithy from the Music Commission, Gigi Arabia, the founding director of Heavy Arabia; Nada Al-Helabi from MDLBEAST; and Mikey Muhanna, the founder and executive director of Afikra.
Other participants include Lulwah Al-Homoud, curator and artist; Oliver Farrell from Misk Art; Mayada Badr, CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission; and Sybel Vazquez from the Diriyah Biennale Foundation.
There will also be a kitchen lab dedicated to speaking about and celebrating all things food, hosted by celebrity chef Joe Barza.
Muntada will conclude with a performance by culinary storyteller and social media sensation Nadir Nahdi.
Deputy minister meets newly appointed Norwegian ambassador to Saudi Arabia
- Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir received the Ambassador of Peru to the Kingdom Carlos Zapata in Riyadh
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati met with the newly-appointed Ambassador of Norway to the Kingdom Kjersti Tromsdal in Riyadh on Monday.
Al-Sati wished the ambassador success in her new duties, the Foreign Ministry stated on X.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir received the Ambassador of Peru to the Kingdom Carlos Zapata in Riyadh on Monday, to mark the end of his term in office.
Al-Jubeir commended Zapata for his valuable efforts to bolster the relationship between the two countries and wished him success in his future endeavors, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Ambassador holds Mexico independence day celebration in Riyadh
- Festive occasion brought together the Mexican community in Riyadh and friends of the embassy
- Anibal Gomez Toledo: We are celebrating the 214th anniversary of the beginning of our independence from Spain
RIYADH: The ambassador of Mexico to Saudi Arabia, Anibal Gomez Toledo, hosted a vibrant national day celebration in Riyadh to commemorate Mexico’s independence day on Sunday.
The festive occasion brought together the Mexican community in Riyadh and friends of the embassy to highlight the strong ties between Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
The ambassador emphasized the significance of September as a month of celebration for both nations.
The ambassador said that the national day celebration hosted in Saudi Arabia held meaning for both Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
“Mexico and Saudi Arabia started bilateral relations back on September 12, 1952, so within the same month Saudi Arabia celebrates its national day on September 23,” he told Arab News.
“So September is a month of celebration for both Mexicans and Saudi Arabia.”
The Mexico national day festivities took place in the Diplomatic Quarters Cultural Palace and welcomed ambassadors, Mexicans living in Saudi Arabia, Saudi authorities and friends of the embassy in an evening of celebration and music.
“It’s a very significant day. It is the most important day in our history,” Toledo said.
“We are celebrating the 214th anniversary of the beginning of our independence from Spain.
“At that time, a group of leaders headed this movement and they started the call on the night of September 15, so exactly at midnight on the 16th is when the movement started, and that is why we enact this special event that we are having today,” he said.
Guests followed the ambassador’s lead in waving flags and chanting “Viva la Mexico,” a chant that embodies the nation’s continued prosperity and freedom.
Toledo also highlighted a significant moment during the celebrations called “El Grito,” a tribute to the Mexican people’s battle cry when they rose up against Spanish rule on Sept. 16, 1810.
“Grito is the call of our founders when they started the revolution of independence. They called and started to gather, and we do something similar tonight,” he said.
“Saudis are very generous and very welcoming and very warm. We feel this warmth from Saudi people toward us Mexicans and Mexico.
“I have been here for almost five years, and I have this feeling of emotion when I am with a Saudi. We are not only friends but brothers ... I don’t know if we share the same DNA or something like that,” he said jokingly.
“We get along very easily; you can see how Saudis celebrate our day and how Mexicans celebrate Saudi national day.”
The ambassador said that the two countries have been “working closely in the past five, six years.”
He added: “We activated our political dialogue, and now our bilateral dialogue is strong and solid. We have exchanged a number of high-level visits from both sides.”
When asked where he would like to see cooperation grow, the ambassador said that trade and tourism were areas of focus.
“Mexico and Saudi Arabia are G20 countries, two of the 20 largest economies in the world. I think we have great potential to continue together.
“Our bilateral trade surpassed $1 billion; five to six years ago, it was less than $300 million. We are seeing bilateral trade growing, and what I would like to have is to double or triple this figure.”
On tourism and cultural exchange, the envoy said that he “would also like to see more Mexicans in Saudi Arabia and more Saudis in Mexico.”
Toledo said that in May, the embassy signed an MoU between two higher education institutions in Mexico and Saudi Arabia, King Fahad Petroleum and Minerals and the Instituto Politecnico Nacional in Mexico offering scholarships for Mexicans to study their graduate degrees in Saudi Arabia.
Crown Prince meets with Egyptian prime minister
- Mostafa Madbouly conveyed greetings of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to King Salman and crown prince
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in Riyadh on Monday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Egyptian prime minister conveyed the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to King Salman and Prince Mohammed, SPA added.
During the meeting, they reviewed relations between the two countries, prospects for joint cooperation and ways to enhance and develop ties.
The meeting was also attended by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Minister of State and Member of the Council of Ministers for Shura Council Affairs Essam bin Saeed, and the Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi.
Khalid Al-Falih, the Saudi Investment Minister, and Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan were joined by the Governor of the Public Investment Fund Yasser Al-Rumayan at the meeting.
The ambassadors of both countries and Egyptian ministers were also in attendance.
Jazan club organizes workshop to enhance tourism experience
RIYADH: The Jazan Tourist Guides Club organized a workshop on museum guidance for guides at Al-Alia Museum in Al-Dagharir, Samtah governorate.
The workshop, held under the National Portal for Hobbies, or Hawi, showed the importance of cultural museums and their role in displaying the region’s heritage, traditions, and the preservation of history, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The guides toured the museum, which contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage, enriching the knowledge of the current generation, and providing information for researchers and people interested in history through its collection of artifacts.
The workshop was part of the club’s efforts to prepare tour guides for the job market and train them in museum guiding techniques.
The club holds training sessions at various tourist attractions throughout Jazan, preparing guides for real-life situations.
Its goal is to prepare tour guides to accompany tourists, plan well-organized tours, and create enjoyable tour itineraries for guests of all nationalities, ages, and interests, the report noted.
The workshops also enrich tour guides’ knowledge of the landmarks in Jazan and train them on how to handle different circumstances in which tourists may find themselves, provide accurate information, and create an exciting experience that reflects the beauty and charm of Jazan.
