Arabs & Arabian Records Aggregator. Chronicler. Milestones of the 25 Countries of the Arabic Speaking World (official / co-official). AGCC. MENA. Global. Ist's to Top 10's. Records. Read & Enjoy./ www.arabianrecords.org
Yavi jumped for joy after crossing the line, having overtaken Chemutai with an explosive final sprint that left the Ugandan who had led most of the race unable to respond.
Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi won the women’s Olympic 3,000m steeplechase gold medal on Tuesday, dethroning Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai who had to settle for silver.
Yavi jumped for joy after crossing the line, having overtaken Chemutai with an explosive final sprint that left the Ugandan who had led most of the race unable to respond.
Chemutai was in shock after Yavi, 24, stole the finish to add the Olympic title to last year’s world championship, setting an Olympic record time of 8 minutes 52.76 seconds. “This is like a dream come true. It’s something special,” Yavi told reporters. “It means a lot to me and also to the country.”
Kenyan 20-year-old Faith Cherotich, ranked third in the world, claimed bronze on her Olympic debut.
On Wednesday, American Quincy Hall dug deep in the final metres to overhaul Briton Matthew Hudson-Smith and take the 400m gold. Hall ran a personal best of 43.40s and give the US their first triumph since LaShawn Merritt in 2008.
Hudson-Smith bettered his own European record with 43.44 for silver and Zambia’s 21-year-old Muzala Samukonga set his second successive national record with 43.74 to take bronze.
Emulating Lewis
Miltiadis Tentoglou flexed his biceps, draped the Greek flag over his shoulders and stared up into the clear night sky above the packed Stade de France.
It was a moment to savor: Tentoglou became only the second man after Carl Lewis to win two consecutive Olympic long jump titles, adding the gold on Tuesday night to the one he claimed at Tokyo three years ago.
“It’s a great achievement,” said Tentoglou, who also claimed the world title last year. “Not bad.” His gold was the first for Greece in any sport at the Paris Games.
Tentoglou’s second jump of 8.48 meters (27 feet, 10 inches) won it. Wayne Pinnock, a 23-year-old Jamaican, got the silver with a leap of 8.36 (27-5 1/4), and Mattia Furlani, a 19-year-old Italian, finished third with a best effort of 8.34 (27 4 1/2).
Upset win
The men’s 1,500 was billed as a bar brawl between the two strongest 1,500m runners in the world. Nobody figured the little-known American guy would steal the show.
Cole Hocker beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr to pull the upset of the Games with an unexpected victory. He wonin an Olympic-record 3 minutes, 27.65 seconds.
Ezzalzouli opened the scoring with a superb shot into the top corner after 23 minutes, before the tournament’s top scorer Rahimi doubled the lead three minutes later.
Morocco claimed the bronze medal at the Olympic men’s football tournament with a crushing 6-0 win over Egypt in Nantes on Thursday.
Morocco, which lost 2-1 to Spain in the semifinals, bounced back with the biggest win in the tournament to reach an Olympic podium for the first time thanks two a Soufiane Rahimi double, and strikes from Abde Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss, Akram Nakach and Achraf Hakimi.
Ezzalzouli opened the scoring with a superb shot into the top corner after 23 minutes, before the tournament’s top scorer Rahimi doubled the lead three minutes later with a fine header from Ezzalzouli’s cross.
El Khannouss got on the scoresheet six minutes into the second half with a great low finish after a solo run into the centre of the box and Rahimi netted his eighth Olympic goal to make it 4-0.
Defender Nakach tapped in from Rahimi’s pass and captain Hakimi completed the rout with a terrific free kick three minutes from time.
Morocco’s bronze medallists pose for a photograph with their medals after the men’s final football match between France and Spain during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Parc des Princes in Paris. (File/AFP)
Noor Slaoui, a 29-year-old Moroccan, has become the first Arab female equestrian to represent Africa and the Middle East after qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics, it was announced on Wednesday.
The professional rider has officially qualified for the Olympics, becoming one of two representatives from Africa and the Middle East, a media statement said.
Slaoui’s journey to this prestigious event marks a significant milestone in her career and for the region’s equestrian sports.
The 29-year-old is dedicated to promoting the development of equestrian sports in the MENA region, with the aim of inspiring greater representation in the coming years.
“I am honored and excited to represent my region at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This journey has been a testament to the dedication and support of my team and the incredible bond with my horses,” she said.
Slaoui said that she looked forward to challenging herself and showcasing the talent from the MENA region on the Olympic stage. “While medals are a goal, my focus is on building a strong foundation for success in the years to come,” she said.
Her passion for horses began in childhood while exploring Morocco’s landscape on horseback. This early love of animals and nature evolved into a dream of making a career of her equestrian interests.
After attaining her baccalaureate at 18, Slaoui took a gap year and moved to France. She earned her riding instructor certification at the National Riding School in Saumur, setting her on the path to equestrian sports and competition.
Later, she moved to the UK to pursue her journey and studied political science at the University of Warwick. It was during that time that when she discovered eventing, often described as the “triathlon of equestrian sports.”
Working with professional riders to refine her skills, the Moroccan managed to balance her practical experience and academic studies.
After meeting her coach and business partner, Deborah Fellous, on graduation they launched her professional riding career, representing group F — “Africa & Middle East” — on the international stage.
Currently, they manage a professional yard in England, home to 17 horses, dedicated to breeding, training and preparing them for top-tier competitions.
Over the past seven years, Slaoui has achieved several notable milestones, becoming the first Moroccan female rider to compete internationally in eventing, and representing the MENA region at the World Championships for Young Horses in 2022 and 2023.
She also participated in Nations Cup events and secured top 10 finishes in 4-star competitions.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Noor Slaoui, a 29-year-old Moroccan, has become the first Arab female equestrian to represent Africa and the Middle East after qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Supplied)
Khelif defeated Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary 5:0 in the quarterfinals of the women’s 66-kilogram bout
She will win at least a bronze medal after defeating Hamori for the second victory of her tumultuous second trip to the Olympics
Boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria clinched a medal Saturday at the Paris Olympics following days of sharp scrutiny and online abuse as misconceptions about her gender have exploded into a larger clash about identity in sports.
Khelif defeated Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary 5:0 in the quarterfinals of the women’s 66-kilogram bout.
Khelif will win at least a bronze medal after defeating Hamori for the second victory of her tumultuous second trip to the Olympics.
Khelif was faced international scrutiny after the banned International Boxing Association claimed Khelif failed an unspecified eligibility test for women’s competition last year. She then won her opening bout Thursday when opponent Angela Carini of Italy tearfully abandoned the fight after just 46 seconds.
The unusual ending became a sharp wedge to drive into an already prominent divide over gender identity and regulations in sports, drawing comments from the likes of former US President Donald Trump, “Harry Potter” writer J.K. Rowling and others falsely claiming Khelif was a man or transgender.
At a Paris Games that has championed inclusion and seen other outcry over an opening ceremony performance featuring drag queens, LGBTQ+ groups say the hateful comments could pose dangers to their community and female athletes. IOC President Thomas Bach on Saturday defended Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan. Khelif and Lin were disqualified in the middle of last year’s world championships by the International Boxing Association, the now-banned former governing body of Olympic boxing, after what it claimed were failed eligibility tests for the women’s competition.
Both had competed in IBA events for several years without problems, and the Russian-dominated body — which has faced years of clashes with the IOC over judging scandals, leadership decisions and financial issues — has refused to provide any information about the tests, underscoring its lack of transparency in nearly every aspect of its dealings, particularly in recent years.
“Let’s be very clear here: We are talking about women’s boxing,” Bach said Saturday. “We have two boxers who are born as a woman, who have been raised a woman, who have a passport as a woman, and who have competed for many years as women. And this is the clear definition of a woman. There was never any doubt about them being a woman.”
The IBA, which received the unprecedented punishment of being banned from Olympic participation in 2019 following years of conflict with the IOC, disqualified Khelif last year for what it said were elevated levels of testosterone.
The IBA, which is led by an acquaintance of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has not released more details on the tests, calling the process confidential.
“What we see now is that some want to own the definition of who is a woman,” Bach added. “And there I can only invite them to come up with a scientific-based new definition of who is a woman, and how can somebody being born, raised, competed and having a passport as a woman cannot be considered a woman?
“If they are coming up with something, we are ready to listen,” Bach added. “We are ready to look into it, but we will not take part in a sometimes politically motivated cultural war.”
Khelif will clinch at least a bronze medal in her second Olympics after failing to medal at the Tokyo Games held in 2021.
Khelif will face Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand in the 66-kg semifinals on Tuesday at Roland Garros. Suwannpheng, a silver medalist at last year’s world championships, upset defending Olympic champion Busenaz Surmeneli a few minutes before Khelif’s victory.
Lin, also a two-time Olympian, will clinch her first medal Sunday if she beats Svetlana Staneva of Bulgaria. Lin won her opening bout Friday comfortably over Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova.
Amid the scrutiny, both Khelif and Lin have received only cheers from the crowds at North Paris Arena.
“What is going on in this context in the social media, with all this hate speech, with all this aggression and abuse, and fueled by this agenda, is totally unacceptable,” Bach said.
The reduced field at the Paris Olympics boxing tournament — which has the fewest number of total boxers since 1956 — means that many fighters can clinch medals with just two victories. Boxing awards two bronze medals in each weight class, which means every semifinalist wins a medal.
The Olympic sport reached gender parity for the first time in Paris, inviting 124 men and 124 women just 12 years after women’s boxing made its Olympic debut.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Algeria’s Imane Khelif reacts prior the match against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the women’s 66kg quarter-final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on August 3, 2024. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
With shows that range from political stances to introspective research, Doha’s Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art proves itself to be one of the most authoritative voices for Arab narratives and the Global South in art.
The first impressions viewers get when walking inside the space set up like a unitary installation by Algerian artist Kader Attia, are a big haunting archive, a disquieting museum storeroom. It’s called “The Repair from Occident to Extra-Occidental Cultures” at this particular museum in the Qatari capital. A number of cabinets on the perimeter of the room showcase objects from colonial times: photographs of French admirals and Arab royalty, plus memorabilia, knives, cutlery and weapons.
Pinned rather aggressively on the shelves with metal rods are books from 1800-1900, like La France d’Outre Mer, Occident Noir and The Age of Napoleon, alongside satirical illustrations from magazines. A particularly disturbing one depicts a naive white nurse taking care of wounded African soldiers, who are depicted with malicious grins on their faces. Whether it’s the representation of racist stereotypes, anthropological studies or orientalist perspectives, the selection of materials by Attia shows different aspects of the relationship between coloniser and colonised, and how models of thought carried on in both Western and non-Western cultures.
Among the more harrowing pieces in the installation are several heads sculpted in wood, reminiscent of African statuettes. The features of these faces are distorted, reminding the viewer of the cubist or expressionist effect, that Picasso, Bacon or more recently Marlene Dumas have largely employed in their work. Looking at the anatomy and war surgery books on the shelves — which explain how to reconstruct exploded faces damaged during WW1, and how to attach prostheses — it seems clear that the distortion in the faces references the war wounded. The artist is hinting at the process of repairing historical wounds and abuses by the West towards its colonies, something central to the postcolonial conversation.
The presence of books like Primitive Art and Psychoanalysis summarises one more aspect of the artwork: how the encounter with the “other” is sublimed and transformed in art, and the deep psychological underpinning which lies behind every form of orientalism.
It’s precisely the link between all these seemingly distant concepts that make Kader Attia’s installation so powerful.
The artist leaves it to the viewer to come to terms with that thick, inextricable matter where racist stereotypes, modernism, colonialism, tribal art, sexuality, anthropology, war, imagination and the subconscious meet in a dangerous mix.
The intention of the work, however, is clear. He is examining this magma with a critical eye, in order to move forward and heal the historical wounds from these power dynamics.
Attia’s work is just a small part of the large and rich collection at Mathaf, but it contains one of its most fundamental themes: the creation of an alternative to the non-Western narratives and discourses for history and art history. This seems to be the main mission that the museums in Qatar are highlighting. While in the Western world museums as institutions are increasingly losing their relevance, in the Global South — namely, the parts of the world previously excluded by a Western narrative — museums are fundamental parts in the development of their own art system. In fact, it’s up to these institutions to construct alternative narratives to the West’s by using museums as a central tool.
The permanent collection of Mathaf is a case in point. Offering an excellent survey of 20th and 21st century modern and contemporary art from the Arab world and the Middle East (which is tellingly called “West Asia”), it is highlighting the strong connections of local Qatari and Arab artists with the wider world in Africa, Asia and Europe.
The permanent collection has evolved from an initial donation of a thousand works collected over the past 25 years by Sheikh Hassan Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Thani. Today, it’s continuing to grow, and hosts more than 9,000 artworks by pioneer Arab artists.
A particularly interesting section of this collection is dedicated to women artists, that has works like “Icons of the Nile” by Egyptian artist Chant Avessidian. This consists of a series of prints and paintings on cardboard representing, in a stylised way, Egyptian icons from modern times, including a number of iconic women.
At the moment, Mathaf is also hosting a temporary exhibition called “Arab Modernism”, which looks at how this current is being articulated in Arab countries, compared with its counterparts around the globe. In the show, we can see not only how Arab artists took visual elements, and techniques from the rich and diverse heritage of the Arab-Muslim world — particularly calligraphy and ornamentation — but also how they mused on the concept of Tajreed. The Arabic term for abstraction, in fact, also means “to strip away” and “purify”, referring to a process of revealing and clarifying through the artistic process itself.
In one room with ochre walls, we can observe how the calligraphic sign was declined to break the division between word and image, opening a space between calligraphy and geometric abstraction. We also find beautiful abstract patterns that intermingle in a big painting by Algerian artist Rachid Koraichi, which is almost tribal in its use of the calligraphic sign and the juxtaposition of primary colours. Etel Adnan, on the other hand, has a much smaller work, part poem, part drawing, where words on paper become abstract lines.
Palestinian Samia Halabi has one painting on show called “The Red One”, an exquisite juxtaposition of touches of colour, which are melodious and musical. Egyptian artist Mounir Canaan, meanwhile, plays on the cubist and modernist usage of pieces of cardboard and wood to create a vibrant image where different plans intersect, creating an effect which is at once aggressive and dynamic.
One of the most beautiful works in the show, though, is by Iraqi artist Hanaa Malallah.
“Secret of Fold Up Squares”, as the name suggests, consists of a series of folded pieces of canvas, burned at their centre. In one of these small squares, almost hidden in the canvas, is a piece of gold, a visually striking and highly evocative detail.
The show lets us observe how shared linguistic and cultural foundations in the Arab world generated a kind of abstraction in the region that stretches far beyond the Western definition of it, or as a simple reaction to academism and realism in art.
A smaller show, “Introspection as Resistance”, is collateral to the Abstraction exhibition. It is dedicated to the mathematical and geometrical work of Iraqi artist Mehdi Moutashar. He has been known as a poet of exactitude and rigour, and his work has been inspired by Abstraction, Minimalism, Op Art and the work of Klein – in its usage of his trademark blue – which is again blended with calligraphy and Arab ornamental patterns.
Overserving graphic motives on the hyper-white walls of the museum, brightly lit, the viewer gets the impression of being catapulted into a different dimension that doesn’t belong to this world, but to computer intelligence.
An early experimenter in geometric abstraction, Moutashar’s work brings mathematical precision and science into art. Looking at the mathematical principles of the universe is, for the artist, a form of introspection. It’s an introspection that bypasses individuals, to connect us with some sort of spiritual truth, a universal order. The artist exemplifies an incessant inquiry and a tireless resistance towards the disorder of the world.
In this sense, the show represents the perfect counterpoint of Kader Attia’s work. Where one acknowledges the impossibility of neatly separating history, imagination, wounding and the mending of wounds, Moutashar launches himself into a Sisyphean attempt to order the work through mathematics.
With these shows, Mathaf proves itself to be one of the most authoritative voices in the Gulf when it comes to speaking about Arab art and its original trajectory. A process of reparation – at least for the art – seems to be possible. One exhibition at a time.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is now home to the world’s first 3-D-printed mosque, spanning an area of 5,600 sqm. Located within the Al-Jawhara suburb of Jeddah, the mosque stands as a tribute to the late equestrian Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly. The project by Forsan Real Estate utilizes cutting-edge 3D printing technology from Guanli.
The mosque’s construction was completed within six months and spearheaded by Wajnat Abdulwahed, the spouse of the late Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly. Aimed at fostering serenity amongst worshipers while integrating natural light, the mosque also features distinctive minarets, creating a landmark within the neighborhood.
The inauguration of the mosque positions Saudi Arabia as a technological hub, surpassing the United Arab Emirates’ projected timeline for a similar endeavor. Dubai announced an initiative to construct the world’s first 3D-printed mosque last May. As a new and complex technique, the successful completion of the world’s 3D-printed religious infrastructure holds potential for the future of architecture and design.
The project has garnered global attention, showcasing the limitless possibilities of 3D printing technology in construction. In an interview with Arab News, Abdulwahed stressed the importance of “not losing the essence that mosques must embody, while also adhering to general conditions such as emphasizing the values of the King Salman Urban charter, the architectural details in the cultural heritage of Hejazi architecture and presenting them in a contemporary format.”
The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Interior, participated in the United Nations Summit of Chiefs of Police (2024), as the sponsoring country of the summit, which was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, USA, on June 26 and 27, as part of its consistent approach and active participation. In strengthening global efforts to enhance security and stability for peoples, and to maintain peace in various regions of the world.
The summit is the largest gathering of ministers, police chiefs and senior representatives of regional police organizations in the world, and a regular event held every two years in the presence of police chiefs from member states to participate and hold bilateral talks, with the aim of promoting peace, security and international development for all, and raising levels of cooperation in the police and security field among member states. .
At the beginning of his speech, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, expressed his thanks to the UAE for sponsoring the UNCOPS 2024 Summit, as the UAE has contributed to many activities related to the United Nations Police, including hosting a number of conferences to evaluate the performance of United Nations Police Chiefs over the past two years in Abu Dhabi, which has enhanced the country’s contribution and role in strengthening dialogues with international organizations and raising police competencies.
The UAE also hosted a number of training courses to raise the capabilities of United Nations police personnel, and courses to raise the leadership of the female component of the United Nations Police, in addition to accrediting an elite group of Ministry of Interior officers to be certified trainers in various positions with the United Nations Police.
The Ministry of Interior participated in a number of periodic field visits to United Nations peacekeeping missions, including: United Nations missions in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.
The delegation of the Ministry of Interior delivered a state speech during the summit, stressing the keenness of the UAE Ministry of Interior with the vision and support of the wise leadership to continue cooperation with all countries of the world and international organizations and institutions, especially in the security and police fields with the aim of combating crime of all kinds. It also valued the strategic partnership with the United Nations Police and the efforts It is making efforts in the Global Initiative for Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), where the UAE’s harmonious policy, the foundations of which were laid by the late founder of the state, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, played a decisive role in resolving many international and regional issues. The Emirati empowerment and construction process continued with the vision, support and follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him.”
The delegation stressed the Ministry of Interior’s continued participation in international and regional efforts to establish international security and stability, wishing success and success to the participants in the work of this summit, which will provide a decent life full of prosperity and well-being for all our peoples.
– Guardians of the Earth.
On the sidelines of the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2024), the International Law Enforcement Initiative for Climate (I2LEC) hosted a panel discussion entitled “Guardians of the Earth: Global Law Enforcement Strategies to Protect the Environment,” in the presence of representatives from the global law enforcement community, with the aim of enhancing awareness of the impact Increase the positive impact of policing on environmental crimes and climate change, showcase best practices and share valuable lessons learned to benefit the global law enforcement community, and promote international cooperation to develop global law enforcement strategies for environmental protection.
Heroine’s mission to save wartime Yemen’s children.
How can one focus and work without a salary? Or when bombs are exploding nearby? Or when you worry that your staff won’t make it home? Or that a cholera epidemic could compromise your hospital?
For the past six and a half years, LSTM alumna, Prof. Najla Al-Sonboli has dedicated her life to helping some of the most vulnerable victims of war-torn Yemen, the children. Every day she sees innocent children come through the doors of her hospital, victims of a war that has ravaged her home country. “I see children suffering and dying right in front of my eyes, I needed to do something to help.”
While at LSTM, Prof. Al-Sonboli initially studied for a Masters in Tropical Paediatrics graduating in 1999. She then later went on to complete the Diploma in Tropical Child Health. Following that she completed her PhD in paediatric health at LSTM with supervision from Professor Luis Cuevas and research in her home country of Yemen.
Now a leading paediatrician and researcher, Prof. Al-Sonboli is the head of the Paediatric Department at Al-Sabeen Hospital for Maternity and Children in Yemen’s largest city of Sana’a.
“I love kids, I can’t bear the thought that anything could hurt them. So, I decided to study paediatrics and help children in Yemen. Because of war, they are dying from diseases, hunger and cross fire. They are suffering too much; many have lost their parents, and many are displaced and separated from their families and their homeland.”
In the face of war and grave personal risk, Prof. Al-Sonboli and her team work tirelessly providing essential and much needed medical care to thousands of children, whilst organising staff to provide voluntary services with minimal resources and coping with new challenges her paediatric department faces. “Every day brings new challenges. We are facing the spread of many epidemics and diseases such as measles, cholera and severe malnutrition.”
“We are admitting cases even on the floor, on chairs, inside their cars with IV stands to prevent them from getting shocked. It is a real disaster”.
“At times we have had to work under fire. Parts of our hospital have been destroyed, and once, one of the rockets hit inside the hospital. This meant our medical staff couldn’t come to work.”
After years of brutal conflict, many of the doctors and nurses are tired. For years, staff have received no salary, many being left without enough money to feed their families. “Some of my colleagues are struggling to buy food for their own children. When this happens, we all come together and make sure we can support them by collecting small amounts of money to help them”.
For some time now staff at LSTM and the broader Liverpool community have been raising vital funds to support colleagues to provide essential medical care to save children’s lives in an incredibly difficult situation. This has since seen the formation of the ‘Liverpool Friendship Group’ which has supported six voluntary nurses, two doctors and extended the Paediatric Intensive Care unit (PICU) and Emergency services for children, bought equipment and developed a new cardiopulmonary resuscitation point.
“The toughest challenges that I faced are to work without salary, if it wasn’t for the generosity of LSTM alumni, staff and the Liverpool community, we don’t know what we would do”
Outside from her day-to-day work, Prof. Al-Sonboli remains a close research partner of LSTM and together with Dr Nasher-Al-Aghbari (another LSTM alumnus); Profs Cuevas and Theobald have held awards from TB REACH on strategies to enhance case findings amongst vulnerable groups.
When asked for the best advice she has ever received, she said “To be a good leader, you have to lead by example – you have to become a symbol”. Prof. Al-Sonboli is a living example of true leadership. Her work and determination have inspired her hospital staff to persevere when things become ugly and simultaneously inspired the international community to recognise her achievements.
“For me, I had the chance to fly out of Yemen as many did but I preferred to stay and help my people. I thought “if I run away and I am the head of the department, then who will stay? No one will come to work.” So, I decided to go to my hospital under fire and to try to encourage my colleagues to come, too.”
In 2018, Prof. Al-Sonboli was recognised as a Heroine for Health at the World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva, for her tireless work in her home country of Yemen.
Nominated for the award by LSTM’s Professor Sally Theobald, Prof Al-Sonboli was recognised by Women in Global Health in association with GE, who celebrated the contribution of nine Heroines for Health, presenting each with an award for leadership in their communities. Unable to leave Yemen, Professor Theobald accepted the award on her behalf.
“Sadly, war and fragility are not going away. We need to recognise, honour and learn from Najla and all the heroes and heroines that work alongside her, in continuing their efforts to bring hope and save lives. This award reflects the respect and support from the global health community for all that they do.”
When interviewed for her Heroine of Health Award, Prof. Al-Sonboli credits her strong relationship with LSTM for keeping the hospital running, including providing much needed funds to rebuild destroyed wards and to treat increasing numbers of patients.
Kilito has won several accolades, with his most recent being the International Prize of King Faisal for Arabic Language and Literature in 2023.
The renowned Moroccan writer Abdelfattah Kilito has been awarded the 2024 Grand Prix de la Francophonie by the French Academy.
Since its establishment in 1986, the Grand Prix of the French Academy has been dedicated to acknowledging Francophone individuals whose impactful efforts, whether locally or globally, have greatly supported the maintenance and propagation of the French language.
The French Academy revealed its roster of 2024 honorees on Thursday evening, recognizing 67 individuals across diverse domains such as literature, poetry, criticism, philosophy, history, cinema, theater, and French music.
Born in 1945, Kilito is a professor emeritus in the French department at Mohammed V University in Rabat. He has also taught in Paris, Princeton, and Harvard.
He has authored numerous works in both Arabic and French, in addition to publishing studies and research in Moroccan and Arab journals and scientific reviews.
Kilito has been recognized with numerous accolades, most notably the 2023 International Prize of King Faisal for Arabic Language and Literature.
Among his other awards, Kilito has received the Great Moroccan Award in 1989, the Atlas Award in 1996, the French Academy Award in 1996, and the Sultan Al Owais Prize for Criticism and Literature Studies in 2006.
The Grand Prix represents a pinnacle of achievement in celebrating Kilito’s profound influence on the French language and culture, both in his homeland and on a global scale.
As his scholarly contributions and literary talent continue to resonate globally, this latest award is another resounding acknowledgement of Kilito’s enduring legacy and his dedication to advancing intercultural dialogue within the global francophone community.
Born in Saudi Arabia and the daughter of a Sudanese father and Egyptian mother, Marwa Zein is a woman that truly embodies multiple identities, and for many it is this that perhaps shines through the most in her work. Even when it comes to her roles, that diversity and multiplicity are frontline and center. An award-winning director, scriptwriter, film producer, women’s rights activist, and founder of ORE Production, a Khartoum-based film production company, Zein is inspiring in every way.
Before setting off on a journey to become a filmmaker, Zein enrolled in Cairo University as a chemical engineering student to please her parents. While studying, she worked and saved up to have the means to leave her degree behind three years later, instead study cinema at the Academy of Arts in Cairo, Egypt in 2005. In 2009, she graduated with honors and moved to Germany to continue her film studies. Her graduation project, “A game,” was an official selection of more dozens of international festivals across the globe and was translated into five languages.
From her inspiring start into the world of film and her academic achievements, Zein moved on to bigger goals, nabbing awards for her short film “One Week, Two Days,” which premiered at the 2016 Dubai International Film Festival. In 2019, she was selected as one of the seven young filmmakers from across to attend the Cannes Film Festival 2019 by the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA).
Perhaps her most renowned recent work is “Khartoum Offside,” which was awarded Best Documentary for 2019 at the 15th Africa Movie Academy Awards AMAA 2019. The documentary tells the story of women footballers whose dream it is to play for Sudan at a Women’s World Cup hosted by their home country, revealing the challenging social, economic, and political situations they face and inspiring audiences with their tale.
Speaking to Women and Hollywood in 2019, Zein had some inspiring words of advice for other female filmmakers, saying, “There’s no competition. Everyone is unique, and we can’t tell the same story even we have the same idea. You are special, different, and inspiring, and you lead the way for the people coming after you.”
“Take care of your mental, physical, and financial situations. It’s a very challenging and demanding business, so don’t lose your soul in the process. Stay true to who you are, and you will reach the horizon,” she continued.
