Recap: Global Youth Summit 2024
Whether you’re a long-time fan of afikra or have just joined our community, you may not have come across the afikra academy. We work with global high schoolers to foster greater understanding of the cultures and histories of the Arab World, cultivate inquisitive and intellectual curiosity in the region, and help them to develop leadership, storytelling and research skills. The academy has two staple programs: our global summit and our global connect courses.
The Youth Summit is a key fixture in the afikra academy calendar: it consists of series of virtual events that connect students with leading professionals shaping the Arab world’s future and present.
This year, the Youth Summit featured four panels reflecting on the Arab World in the digital age under the theme “Shaped by the Algorithm”. We had a diverse array of experts, including journalists, music artists, venture capitalists, and scholars specializing in innovation policy, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, women's rights, and youth development.
Pop music
Words by Sophia Griffith
The Pop Music Panel, featuring Danny Hajjar, a Washington D.C.-based music journalist, and Anthony Semaan, co-founder of Beirut Jam Sessions, explored the world of Arab pop music. Danny touched on the recent rise in popularity of Arab pop, predominantly from English-speaking audiences hungry for new sounds. He also spotlighted how inspiration from genres like reggaeton and Afro beats are bleeding into Arabic music, sparking a vibrant fusion that listeners have been searching for. With emerging stars like Elyanna and Saint Levant dominating the charts, smaller artists in the region are finding themselves in the shadows. Anthony shared how artists are skillfully using live music events and digital concerts—like those hosted by Beirut Jam Sessions—to boost their profiles and gain momentum. He emphasized how festivals and live shows not only create deeper connections between artists and their fans but also serve as crucial revenue streams for many musicians. The panel was an energetic dive into how Arab pop is not just evolving but starting to blaze a trail on the global stage, blending cultural heritage with contemporary beats to create something truly exhilarating. To learn more about pop music in the Arab world, check out Danny’s blog Sa’alouni El Nas and afikra’s new podcast Shik Shak Shook Ones.
Journalism
Words by Falasteen Mansour
The Journalism Panel offered a unique perspective on what it’s like to be a journalist in the Arab world featuring Nour Malas and Micheline Tobia.
They tackled the dichotomy between reporting on the difficult state of the Arab world, while also holding on to hope for the future. As well as the importance of one of journalism’s key tenets: fact finding and fact verification, which has been challenged by the rapid advancement of technology and the algorithm itself.
Both Malas and Tobia spoke about their unique career paths; Malas working as a field reporter for the Wall Street Journal and continuing her career at the LA Times, and Tobia starting an independent news organization (Mashallah News) and later switching to policy making (Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy). Malas expressed that her field work in Syria and Iraq not only strengthened her reporting skills, but also left a major emotional impact. Tobia spoke about the struggles and triumphs of starting Mashallah News, and her career shift to working in policy.
Moving on to recent events, they discussed the importance and value of citizen journalists, both in the context of the Arab Spring and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. This conversation put both the emotional and factual sides of journalism in the spotlight, while also offering an optimistic message for future journalists. The hallway room gave viewers a chance to ask the guests further questions, and when asked what book recommendations she would give Tobia said, “Our Women on the Ground”, a collection of stories from female journalists, Malas being a contributor
Economics
Words by Nazokat Makhmodova
The Economics Panel began with a discussion on a blend of economics, business, technology, and innovation with Sarah El Saleh and Anwar Aridi. Dana & Nazokat dove into the question of how the MENA region compares to its western counterparts.
Sarah AlSaleh mentioned that impact by entrepreneurs is much more felt in the MENA region: “You're literally creating new markets. That has new opportunities and value creation.” By reframing our perception of the MENA region from a “small” to “growing” market mindset, it is clear that there is a lot of untapped potential and young talent eager to embark on their business journeys.
This shifted to a discussion of how technology transfer (including AI) and research can accelerate growth in the Middle East. Anwar Aridi commented on how research is leveraged to “design policy advice” that can shift the course of entire economies. With the impact of AI being such a controversy when it comes to employment, Sarah's take on it was that it makes the workforce “capable of producing superior outcomes”, a step in the right direction.
Politics
Words by Cherry Butler-Bowdon
The Politics Panel, towards the end of the conference, was lively and empowering with an overarching tone of optimism. It featured Hafsa Halawa, scholar at the Middle East Institute, and Laila Mokhiber, Director of Communications for UNRWA USA. Both approach common issues such as human rights advocacy from different angles, Hafsa from a conflict and peacebuilding angle and Laila from an aid background, these different perspectives providing thought provoking discussions about problem solving and the nature of conflict.
The conversation began by both panelists sharing their personal motivations for entering the field of politics and how this has molded their careers. Laila shared that much of her energy for change comes from generations in her family before her who informed her interests. Then conversation shifted to current realities of conflict in the Middle East and Hafsa shared her insights into the similarities between recent waves of protests and the Arab Spring, drawing on echoes of a simmering need for revolt against corruption. The panel concluded with advice for future generations entering politics in the Middle East; Hafsa and Laila both confronted the realities of being a woman in a male dominated field but acknowledged that the stage is changing and encouraged those with passion to be persistent in entering politics.
