Sofia Boutella : Algerian-French Actress. Hollywood.

Sofia Boutella – Actress. Model. Dancer.

Actor:

-2019 – Amazon Prime’s Modern Love (season 1, edition 5) / 2018 – Roles in the movies Climax, Fahrenheit 451 / 2017 – Roles in Atomic Blonde, The Mummy / 2016 – Roles in Star Trek Beyond, as alien warrior Jaylah / 2015 – Kingsman: The Secret Service // 2015 – Lead character Eva in the film Street Dance 2 etc….

Music Videos:

Performed in more than 20 leading world acclaimed music videos with icons of the music industry. Worked with Michael Jackson, Rihanna. Toured with Madonna.

Modelling:

Appeared in Nike Women’s advertising campaign amongst others.

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PIX: en.wikipedia.org

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FRANCE / ALGERIAN-FRENCH

Mohamed Bourouissa – French Algerian Artist Awarded ‘Deutsche Borse Photography Prize 2020 : September

Mohamed Bourouissa. Artist. Activist

He was awarded the USD 38,000 ‘Deutsche Borse Photography Foundation Prize 2020’ for his ‘Free Trade’ installation.

It was first exhibited across an entire floor at a Monoprix Supermarket in France as a part of the ‘Les Recontres d’Artes Photography Festival’ in 2019.

Bourouissa uses different mediums including photography, video, painting, text, drawing and sculpture.

His work reflects the lives of the marginalised and dispossessed.

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The Algerian-born artist is known for his politically-charged series that highlight the marginalized communities of Paris. File/Supplied / pix: arabnews.com

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FRANCE / FRENCH-ALGERIAN

Nashwa Al Ruwaini – Awarded ‘Woman Icon of the Year : 2017

Nashwa Al Ruwaini – Chairwoman and CEO – Pyramedia Group. Media Personality (aka) Oprah Winfrey of the Arab World. Production House. Philanthrophy.

Pyramedia has offices in Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, London and New York.

-Board Member and CEO – Pyramedia Media Production and Consultancy / CEO – Al Joude Investments / Al Joude Advertising & Publicity / CEO- Delma Medical Centre / Founder and Chairman – Nashwa Foundation .

Firsts:

-Youngest female personality on Arab TV – ‘ Qatar TV ‘

-First to set up ‘Middle East Film Festival’ and Emmy Award in Middle East / Involved in providing cast for the Hollywood production for ‘Pirates of the Carribbean’ / Co-Founder and Board Member – Abu Dhabi Film Festival / Member – International Academy of TV, Arts and Sciences

Production:

  • Winner Award Winning Production of ‘The Millions Poet and ‘Prince of Poet’
  • Involved in the live-action remake of Disney’s Aladdin

Awards:

  • One of the Winners of ‘Arabian Business Saudi Awards, Ritz Carlton Hotel-Riyadh – (2019)
  • Woman Icon of the Year 2017 at Middle East Leadership Award (2017)
  • Emirates Woman Award , Category: Innovation (2017)
  • Listed ‘Forbes 100 Most Powerful Arab Business Woman’
  • Listed in Arabian Business 100 Smartest People in the UAE
  • One of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Global TV – Hollywood Reporter Magazine (2014)

www.pyramedia.biz

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pix : ww.pyramedia.biz

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EGYPT

Amina Muaddi : Footwear Designer : Paris. Italy.

Amina Muaddi . International Footwear Designer

Her own brand : Amina Muaddi. Designed in Paris. Produced in Italy. Launched in 2018

Co-Founder : Oscar Tiye, Milan. Her first shoe brand

Amina Muaddi commissioned by Rihanna to design the footwear for her brand Fenty

Designer also for shoeline of French couturier Alexandre Vauthier

Awards :

-‘Designer of the Year’ at ‘2019 Footwear News Achievement Awards’, New York

-2018 FNAA Award for ‘Launch of the Year Award’ for her own label Amina Muaddi

Education:

-European Institute of Design, Milan

-Styling stints at L’Uomo Vogue and GO US

www.aminamuaddi.com

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pix : en.vogue.me

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JORDAN-ROMANIA

Mona Kosar Abdi – Multimedia Journalist : USA

Mona Kosar Abdi (aka) Mona Kosaar Cabdi (Somali). Reporter. Journalist. News Presenter

Presently:

-Co-Anchor : ABC World News Now and America This Morning

-Former : WSET Reporter and Co-Host

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AMERICAN / SOMALIA

Nancy Ajram Breaks Records – ‘Most Listened To’ Female Arab Artist on Spotify : August 2020

Nancy Ajram (Nancy Nabil Ajram). Singer. Television Judge. Businesswoman. Philanthropy.

With this record Nancy Ajram has outperformed major singers Fairuz and the late Umm Kulthum.

Nancy came at the top of a list as the ‘Most Listened’ to female artist on the Spotify platform, after she achieved more than 100 million plays of her songs, followed by  Fairuz with 67 million plays, then Egyptian songstress Sherine Abdel Wahab with 26 million plays, then Iraqi artist Aseel Hamim with 22 million plays.

In addition, the list includes the following artists; Yara, Elissa, Najwa Karam, Assala Nasri, Haifa Wehbe, Carole Samaha, Samira Said, and finally the late Umm Kulthum known as “Kawkab Al Sharq” with 7.6 million.

Judge on MBC’s reality talent show ‘ Arab Idol’ (2003 onwards)

Records :

-Nancy Ajram has previously won many international awards, including World Music Award for the highest sales in the Middle East.

-Over 30 million records have been sold world wide, making her one of the best selling Middle Eastern music artists.

-First and only female spokesperson of Coca-Cola in the Arab World.

-UNICEF’s First Female Regional Ambassador for Middle East and North Africa (October 22nd, 2009)

-Listed on ‘One of the Most Powerful Arabs’ by Arabian Business (several times) / Listed on ‘Most Influential Arabs’ – by Newsweek

Awards:

  • More than 25 or so. Check wikipedia.com for the list

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pix : arabnews.com

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Lebanon

Lebanese Author Amin Maalouf Awarded ‘ National Order of Merit, France ‘ : March 2020

Amin Maaloof . Scholar. Writer. Novelist.

Honours / Decorations :

-Chevalier of the Legion of Honour – France / – Grand officier of the National Order of Merit – France / Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Letrres – France / Knight First class of the Order of the Lion of Finland / Grand Cordon of the National Order of the Cedar – Lebanon / Officier of the Order of Cultural Merit – Monaco

-Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for Literature (2010)

-Sheikh Zayed Book Award for “Cultural Personality of the Year” -2016

-Elected member of the Academie francaise – 23 June 2011 . Maalouf is the first person of Lebanese heritage to receive that honor

Books / Fiction :

Leon l’Africain (1986) Leo Africanus-translated by Peter Sluglett / Samarcande (1988) Samarkand – translated by Russell Harris / –Les jardins de lumiere (1991) – The Gardens of Light – translated by Dorothy S. Blair / –Le Premier siecle apres Beatrice (1992) – The First Century after Beatrice – translated by Dorothy S. Blair / –Le Rocher de Tanios (1993) – The Rock of Tanios – translated by Dorothy S. Blair / –Les Echelles du Levant (1996) – Ports of Call – translated by Alberto Manguel / –Le Periple de Baldassare (2000) – Balthasar’s Odyssey – translated by Barbara Bray

Books / Non-Fiction :

Les Croisades vues par les Arabes (1983) – The Crusades Through Arab Eyes / –Les Identites meurtrieres (1998) – In the Name of Identity : Violence and the Need to Belong – translated by Barbara Bray / –Origenes (2004) – Origins : A memoir – translated by Catherine Temerson / – Le Dereglement du monde (2009) – Disordered World – translated by George Miller

pix: dailystar.com.lb

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French / French-Arab / Lebanese-French

First Arab Musician to be Featured on Times Square Billboard in New York : Amr Diab – Egypt : 2019

Amr Diab (aka) El Hadaba . Musician. Actor.

One of the top selling Arab music recording artists.

Awards :

-7 – World Music Awards / 6 – African Music Awards / many more etc.

-The First Arab singer to receive the largest number of International Music Awards for most album sales in the Middle East . Guinness World Record – 2016

-Inducted into ‘Dubai Star Walk of Fame’ – 2019

-First Arab Musician to be featured by Spotify on a Times Square Billboard in New York – 2019

-Will feature in upcoming Netflix Arabic series for Middle East and North Africa, after his 27-year hiatus from acting.

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pix: musicinafrica.net

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Egypt

World’s Largest and Biggest Camel Racing Festival – Saudi Arabia : September 2019

13,377 camels participated in the largest camel racing tournament in the world. Certificate issued by Guinness World Records.

The event was organised by the Saudi Camel Racing Federation and was held on September 13th, 2019 at Taif, Saudi Arabia.

The Crown Prince Camel Festival / pix: thenational.ae

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Saudi Arabia

Highest Sword Throw – Hazza Sulaiman Al Shehhi – Fujairah (UAE) : November 2010

Hazza Sulaiman Al Shehhi – successfully executed the highest sword throw reaching 21.275m (69ft.9″).

It was achieved as a part of the Fujairah Crown Prince Award and Al Saif Traditional Sword competition, held at Fujairah Fort, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates on November 26th, 2010.

Hazza has a specially developed technique for throwing the sword.

The attempt was measured using videography and high precision laser measuring meter called Leica Disto D8. The event was certified by Guinness World Records.

pix: thenational.ae

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Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE)