Media Majlis Museum (mm:museum) at Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q), in collaboration with global media and educational platform afikra, will host a public symposium on October 26, exploring the significance of Arabic storytelling in artificial intelligence, film, and media.
The multidisciplinary event at NU-Q campus coincides with the ongoing exhibition on Arabic titled 'The limits of my language are the limits of my world,' curated by alumna Amal Zeyad Ali. The programme will include panel discussions, two performances and a variety of collateral activities.
The first panel, 'Screens and Scripts: The Future of Arabic in Media,' will focus on the evolving role of the Arabic language across various media platforms, from traditional news outlets to modern streaming services and social media channels. The second panel, “Algorithms and Alphabets: Advancing Arabic in Technology,” will focus on how Arabic interfaces with emerging technologies.
In the final panel, Enam al-Wer, professor in the Department of Language and Linguistics at the University of Essex, Lebanese author Omar Thawabeh, and Layan Abdul Shakoor, founder and creative director at Saudi-based writing and publishing house Mauzoun, will explore the evolving landscape of Arabic publishing.
Performances by DJ Amen Ra, and Bedouin Burger, a musical duo featuring Lynn Adib and Zeid Hamdan are among the highlights.
Alfredo Cramerotti, director of mm:museum, said: “The symposium exemplifies the public engagement the media majlis museum promotes, featuring conversations, debates, performances, and networking on the Arabic language in media, tech, and publishing. Collaborating with afikra enhances our connection with Arab communities and enriches the storytelling of Arabic culture for younger audiences.”
This symposium is part of an ongoing collaboration between media majlis museum and afikra, which also includes a three-episode podcast series exploring the Arabic language, culture, and identity jointly produced and published on The afikra Podcast Network.
The event coincides with the ongoing exhibition on Arabic.
