On September 27, Monday, fans of the Lebanese youth icon, Remie Akl, and famous Egyptian YouTuber Ahmed El Ghandour aka ‘Al Daheeh’ are in for a double treat – both stars will light up the stage at Expo Centre Sharjah with their special brand of creativity. The Arab youth icons will perform as part of the popular ‘Inspirational Talks’ series at 10th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF).
A gifted performance artist, who has built a legion of young followers in the region, Remie Akl is a truly innovative storyteller from Beirut. She combines music, poetry, wit and the inherent beauty of the Arabic language to create captivating performances that address big issues like political corruption, societal taboos, and gender inequality.
In a special act titled “Where I get my strength from” that Akl has choreographed especially for the IGCF 2021, she will be celebrating the strength, resilience and capacity of Arab youth to create positive change in society, while encouraging them to embrace their Arab heritage, culture and language. The performance piece will feature her signature visual introduction and include spoken word and song.
Akl, who embodies the rebellious spirit of youth and whose work is rooted in her identity as an Arab woman, said: “As a storyteller, I believe in pushing each and every medium to its creative limits to achieve a truly unique result. This is the message I wish to convey to our Arab youth – to discover and own their strengths and utilise them positively to create the change they desire in their communities. I am hugely excited about performing at this leading global forum and thank the organisers wholeheartedly for this wonderful opportunity.”
Al Daheeh’s take on effective communication of truth
Ahmed El Ghandour aka ‘Al Daheeh’, whose channel ‘El Daheeh’ with AJ+ has 5 million followers, will follow Remie’s act with a fascinating session titled Delivering the truth through communication, which will attempt to answer the pressing, timely, and topical question of where truth fits into communication and whether it can be simplified to shape public opinion and facilitate public life.
In his inimitable style, Ahmed will elaborate on how serious, academic concepts can be communicated to learners using unconventional techniques like drama, comedy, graphics, and animation; and why innovation should become a priority.
Speaking about why he does what he does, Ahmed said: “The truth needs good stories, good stylists, good lenses, strong marketing and good distribution. I would say truth needs good communication. Let me put it this way: A piece of information presented in a particular manner can be of great impact if conveyed differently in the same language. That’s what we do. Rigorous, meticulous academic papers translated into whimsical and comical strips will enable people to grasp complex ideas easily and never forget.”
IGCF is organised by the International Government Communication Centre (IGCC), a subsidiary of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Themed ‘Historic Lessons, Future Ambitions’, IGCF is taking place on September 26 – 27, 2021, at Expo Centre Sharjah.
