Latest news with #AbuDhabiCultureSummit
Euronews
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Disney announces its first theme park in the United Arab Emirates
ADVERTISEMENT Disney will build its seventh theme park, this one in the United Arab Emirates, the entertainment company announced on Wednesday. The waterfront resort will be built on Yas Island on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, already home to Formula One's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Ferrari and Warner Bros. amusement parks, SeaWorld and a waterpark. The Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, UAE. AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Home to 9 million people, it has leveraged its long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways to bring in more tourists over the years. A real-estate boom and the city's highest-ever tourism numbers have made Dubai a destination as well as a layover. Disney and Miral, the Abu Dhabi developer overseeing the project, hope to capitalise on the 120 million airline passengers that travel through Abu Dhabi and Dubai each year. Related Culture for Humanity and Beyond: Abu Dhabi Culture Summit debates the future of culture While long viewed as more buttoned up than the beaches and raucous nightlife in neighbouring Dubai, Abu Dhabi also is home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and there are more museums currently under construction. The theme park announcement is being made ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump to the region next week. Trump has promised a series of business deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. The Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Florida. AP Photo/John Raoux, File The theme park will be built and operated by Miral, the company involved in the development of almost all of the entertainment complexes built on the island. Meanwhile, Disney will handle the design and development, also licensing its intellectual property and providing development and management services, according to a regulatory filing. The California company will not be providing any capital for the project. It will earn royalties based on the resort's revenues. It will also earn service fees. Last year, Disney announced that it was planning to invest $60 billion (€55.3 billion) in its theme parks over the next 10 years, which remain one of their biggest revenue grossers. A projected opening date for the UAE park has not been announced.
Mail & Guardian
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mail & Guardian
The Soul in the machine: Holding onto our humanity in a tech-driven world
The human thread: South African designer Thebe Magugu was a speaker at the Abu Dhabi Culture Summit. I didn't know much about Abu Dhabi when I stepped off the plane at Zayed International Airport. I knew that it was both the capital of the emirate with which it shares its name and of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a whole. But what I discovered was how much serious money Abu Dhabi is investing in positioning itself as a global centre of arts and culture. While I was in the city, I visited the Louvre Abu Dhabi, named after the famous museum in Paris, and made possible through an agreement between the UAE and France. The summit took place in a precinct shared by Berklee Abu Dhabi, the first Middle Eastern outpost of the Berklee College of Music in Boston in the US, the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, named after the famed New York art museum, is under construction. The Culture Summit is just one event on the Abu Dhabi arts calendar. The city was chosen by Unesco to host International Jazz Day this year, a celebration of music and artistic freedom, which is held annually on 30 April. Multiple Grammy-winning jazz icon Herbie Hancock led an all-star line-up of some of the most celebrated figures in jazz music for a special concert at Etihad Arena. The Abu Dhabi Culture Summit — running since 2017 and on its seventh edition — is one aspect of that effort. It's a way to bring together an exceptional collective of creative thinkers, decision-makers, artists, designers, change-makers and leaders from the cultural and creative sectors. Musicians perform at the event Organised by the UAE's department of culture and tourism, the goal of the annual event is to identify ways in which culture can transform societies and communities worldwide — and turn these ideas into actions and solutions. The theme for this year 'Culture for Humanity and Beyond' was apparently inspired by a speech delivered by the Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka at last year's edition in which he opined that we are moving toward 'the era of a post-human civilisation'. Not being familiar with the speech myself, I'm not sure what he meant, but judging by the programme of the 2025 summit, it probably had a lot to do with fears around the rapid advancement of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). Indeed, there were plenty of discussions about how AI will affect — and is already affecting — how we navigate the world but the main thing I took away was that you can't innovate beyond humanity. No matter how much we progress technologically, the distinctly human elements of creativity, connection and culture will always be the things that make life meaningful. We don't go to the Louvre to see works generated by ChatGPT or DeepSeek. We go there to connect to the personal stories and histories of artists who create timeless works and the cultures and heritages that they capture for posterity. AI can be a useful tool but it's no replacement for humanity. I had all this in the back of my mind when I spoke to Thebe Magugu, who was also attending the summit for the first time, but as a speaker. The award-winning South African creative director and designer is a perfect example of that irreplaceable human element when he describes using fashion as a 'Trojan horse' for storytelling. Chair of the Abu Dhabi department of culture and tourism Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak Magugu won Louis Vuitton's LVMH Prize in 2019; has collaborated with brands like Dior, Adidas and Valentino and has opened his own retail space and showroom, called Magugu House, in Johannesburg. It was named among Time Magazine's best places in the world last year. 'I hadn't heard about the summit before I was invited, either,' he tells me during a quick conversation at the Manarat Al Saadiyat, the multi-purpose venue for the event. His invitation had come through the Design Museum in London, which Magugu has collaborated with and is one of the summit's partner organisations. 'When I started my brand, its premise was essentially 'Afro-encyclopaedic fashion',' he explains. 'So, capturing key histories, people's cultures, that run the risk of being forgotten but forever immortalised through the power of cloth. Because I always think that fashion is an incredibly intelligent industry, and people not familiar with it seem to think that it's superficial and it doesn't have any deeper meaning. 'But, actually, how I participate with fashion is using it as a Trojan horse to tell our stories. 'And I think, as I started developing the brand or thinking about the brand early, before it even started, it was this idea that the West — whether it's Europe or America — has documented its own story and history quite deeply. But who's telling our story?' 'I think it's so critical that we, as Africans, tell our stories instead of leaving it to someone else. How I do it, instead of in words, is through fashion,' he says. And I think, by pure virtue of someone wearing my clothes, whether they're here in the UAE or in Japan or wherever they are, they're telling our story without even saying a word.' During the summit, Magugu chatted with Cher Potter, deputy editor-in-chief of the London Design Museum's Future Observatory Journal, about the creative ethos of his work. Magugu went through all the collections he has done and how they incorporate spirituality, culture and heritage. An Emirati traditional performance 'I was explaining one of my collections, Alchemy, where I interviewed spiritual healers back home, and I was just talking about the importance of ancestral veneration which, in Western terms, is simple gratitude,' he says. Magugu explained how traditional healers like Noentla Khumalo had inspired the collection. He invited her to his studio where she threw her bones of divination on the floor. He photographed that and printed it on silk georgette fabric, from which a pleated skirt was made. 'That's how you modernise culture, in a lot of ways. And I feel like people resonated with that so much — this idea that you can show where you're from without it being literal. You know, it can be interpreted in a really beautiful, global way.' That creative connection between history, spirituality and fashion is distinctly human in the best possible way and it reminds us of that often intangible, but essential, characteristic that is not easily replicated by technology. 'It's been incredible and also quite validating that people really resonate with the approach of my brand,' Magugu says. 'And I think people gravitate to that because the world actually needs that right now. 'As things sort of go faster and faster, especially exacerbated through social media and other technology, people are feeling lost in a lot of ways. And I feel like connecting to something higher is something everyone is actually craving right now.' What Abu Dhabi's Culture Summit ultimately reveals is even as we race into an era shaped by unprecedented technological advancement, it is humanity — expressed through art, music, fashion, storytelling and culture — that remains our greatest asset. Whether through the ancestral echoes in Thebe Magugu's designs or the global gatherings of minds seeking to preserve and progress our shared heritage, the message is clear — technology can simulate, support, and even astonish, but it cannot replace the soul. In a world increasingly driven by algorithms and automation, it's the emotional depth, historical awareness and spiritual resonance of human creativity that continues to ground us — and that, above all, will carry us forward.
Mail & Guardian
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mail & Guardian
Angélique Kidjo still sings with purpose
All Hail Angélique!: At the age of 64, the Beninese-French singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo lives joyfully, performs powerfully and gives relentlessly. Photo: Patrick Fouque It's the first day of the Abu Dhabi Culture Summit and I am sitting, along with about 100 other people, in the main auditorium of the Manarat Al Saadiyat in the capital of the United Arab Emirates for a special performance. The one and only Angélique Kidjo is here. On a small stage on the right of the circular auditorium, the legendary Beninese-French singer-songwriter speaks to the CEO of The Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr about her music and impact. But this is just a precursor for what we have all come to see. It's not long before Kidjo springs to her feet and launches into a medley of some of her greatest hits — with the support of Togolese guitarist Amen Viana and French-Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf. At first, the crowd is dead quiet, observing the performance as though they aren't witnessing one of the finest musicians Africa has ever produced. 'Are we in a library or a concert?' I wonder out loud. But it's a summit that has far more panel discussions and keynote speeches on the programme than it does music performances, so I shouldn't be surprised that everybody is taking themselves way too seriously. Kidjo isn't deterred. She performs with the energy and vitality of a rollicking sold-out show, her voice soaring and, slowly but surely, she shakes the audience out of its slumber. Enticing us into a call-and-response, initially only a handful heed the invitation to collaborate on her choruses but, gradually, more and more voices join in the celebration and the volume of the music grows. As the sound rises, people rise to their feet. Now we're talking. It takes only 10 minutes to go from folded arms and solemn faces to hand clapping, feet stomping, rhythm swaying and chanting in harmony. Kidjo is singing at the top of her voice, and moving with the careless abandon of a woman who knows joy — pure, unfiltered, boundless joy. That's the reason that she can still perform with such vitality at 64 years of age and still tours, performing at venues across the world. 'Performing is the thing I like the most,' she tells me. 'I don't like studios. I mean, to me, the studio is a way to get on tour. 'That's what I grew up doing. I started singing on stage at six years old, so I got the virus for performing early.' In a few hours, she'll get on a plane to New York to perform at the hallowed concert venue Carnegie Hall. But, for a few precious minutes, I get to speak to Kidjo in her backstage dressing room alongside Jean Hebrail, her husband and musical collaborator of over 40 years. The impact of her music has spanned generations and earned her accolades including five Grammy awards. But perhaps even more impressive is the list of fellow musicians she's collaborated with which includes Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Branford Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Josh Groban and Ziggy Marley. Hebrail shows me a video clip of Kidjo performing with Mama Africa herself, the late great Miriam Makeba, at a concert in 2006. The image of the two icons joyously singing Makeba's classic song Malaika is magical. Yes, Ms Kidjo is loved across the world — but she belongs to Africa first and foremost. 'If I was not born in Africa, I don't think I would be the artist I am,' she says. 'I never deny the place where I am from. We have our issues. We have our problems. But I was born in Africa for a reason. And that reason, I don't know. 'I'm just proud of who I am. Everywhere I go, every time I'm on stage, I always stand knowing where I come from and carrying the African continent on my shoulders.' More recently, Kidjo has collaborated with younger artists like Burna Boy, Mr Eazi, Yemi Alade, EarthGang and Blue Lab Beats. I ask her how these collaborations — which run the gamut from Nigerian Afrobeats artists to a British jazz duo and an Atlanta-based hip-hop group — came about. 'I'm always listening to music and keeping my ear out for new artists that excite me,' she says. 'Sometimes I receive a DM and I say, 'Okay, let's do this. Send me the song.' 'It's always about the song. How is the song we're making going to help us tell a compelling story that's going to outlive us? A story that's going to form part of the heritage of the next generation. I'm always available for any young artist that wants to do something compelling but you have to work hard because I won't work with you if your song isn't good and if it's not going to lift you up to the next level. 'I'm not doing stuff to please you. I'm doing it because I want you to elevate yourself. And when you get there, pass it on to the next generation,' she says. Kidjo is deeply concerned about passing on the knowledge and wisdom to younger generations and leaving behind a world they can be proud to inherit. No wonder she has done so much work advocating for social issues. She's been a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for more than 20 years and she founded the Batonga Foundation, a non-profit promoting education and leadership for girls in different parts of Africa. She's been a strong advocate for climate justice, refugee rights and global education; her music has been used in UN campaigns and she has addressed the General Assembly calling for more to be done to reduce child mortality rates. While her contributions as a musician are incredible, Kidjo will be remembered for more than her work as an artist. I ask her what the word 'legacy' means to her. 'Well, I didn't start doing music thinking about legacy or being rich,' she says. 'That was not the core of what I wanted to do. 'When I was a little girl I was taught that, when you are given a gift of voice and song, or whatever gift you're given by nature, if it serves you, you have to use it to serve other people. If it makes you happy, you have to share that happiness with others. 'It's not for me to keep my voice to myself; I need to share it with the largest amount of people I can. So, that was the foundation I started on and that's still how I function today. I am always at the service of a song. My desire is to give something to others, not to keep it to myself. 'So, for me, the word 'legacy' is not something I think about at all because, as long as I still have my health and a voice, and I can go out there and have fun on stage and make people happy, that's my salary. 'That's what gives me the strength to go through horrendous hours of travelling around the world, just to be on that stage …' What lingers most is not just Kidjo's voice, or even her accolades, but the sheer force of spirit she brings to every room she enters. On that stage in Abu Dhabi, she didn't just sing — she ignited something in all of us. She reminded us, through movement and music, that joy is a powerful form of resistance and connection. It's the same joy that has propelled her through over four decades of global touring, collaborations and advocacy, and the same joy she insists on sharing with those she mentors. A woman who knows the meaning of joy — Kidjo does more than merely perform, she rises to the occasion, makes the most of her gifts and selflessly shares her voice with others. In the process, she invites us all to rise with her.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Culture for Humanity and Beyond: Abu Dhabi Culture Summit debates the future of culture
The seventh annual Abu Dhabi Culture Summit will take place from 27 to 29 April, bringing designers, artists and culture leaders from around the world to the United Arab Emirates. The 2025 edition of the summit, supported by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, will explore 'Culture for Humanity and Beyond' as its central theme, questioning what the cultural landscape of the future could look like. The event will aim to uncover 'new perspectives as we navigate global technological transitions and build a sustainable future together', Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said in a statement. 'From heritage to creativity, culture is an expression of humanity that connects us through time. This year's theme challenges us to examine how technology has transformed this age-old relationship', said Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO, which partners the summit. Other global partners include the Design Museum, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and the Recording Academy. The three-day event will feature conversations with artists including four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood and digital and mixed-media artist Refik Anadol, known for incorporating data and AI in his work. Experts will also gather for panels on issues like the role of AI in creative industries, culture as an instrument of global governance, and the preservation and rehabilitation of cultural heritage. The annual Culture Summit is part of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates' increasing efforts to become leaders in the global cultural conversation. In 2024, the Abu Dhabi Art Fair organised its largest-ever edition, welcoming 104 galleries, up from 92 in 2023. Abu Dhabi has also been investing in its Saadiyat Cultural District, with the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum in 2017 and the long-delayed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project. 'We believe that culture is the building block of any forward-thinking society. We believe it is principle for our youth', Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak told Euronews.
Euronews
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Culture for Humanity and Beyond: Abu Dhabi Culture Summit debates the future of culture
ADVERTISEMENT The seventh annual Abu Dhabi Culture Summit will take place from 27 to 29 April, bringing designers, artists and culture leaders from around the world to the United Arab Emirates. The 2025 edition of the summit, supported by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, will explore 'Culture for Humanity and Beyond' as its central theme, questioning what the cultural landscape of the future could look like. The event will aim to uncover 'new perspectives as we navigate global technological transitions and build a sustainable future together', Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said in a statement. 'From heritage to creativity, culture is an expression of humanity that connects us through time. This year's theme challenges us to examine how technology has transformed this age-old relationship', said Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO , which partners the summit. Other global partners include the Design Museum, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and the Recording Academy. The three-day event will feature conversations with artists including four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood and digital and mixed-media artist Refik Anadol, known for incorporating data and AI in his work. Experts will also gather for panels on issues like the role of AI in creative industries, culture as an instrument of global governance, and the preservation and rehabilitation of cultural heritage. The annual Culture Summit is part of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates' increasing efforts to become leaders in the global cultural conversation. In 2024, the Abu Dhabi Art Fair organised its largest-ever edition, welcoming 104 galleries, up from 92 in 2023. Abu Dhabi has also been investing in its Saadiyat Cultural District, with the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum in 2017 and the long-delayed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project. 'We believe that culture is the building block of any forward-thinking society. We believe it is principle for our youth', Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak told Euronews.
