Latest news with #NadinaRonc
Gulf Today
15-04-2025
- Gulf Today
Author gives unique perspective on ‘Home, Identity, Belonging in the UAE'
The UAE presents a rare opportunity to rewrite our stories, free from others' labels, and embrace a future defined by our own terms. Bosnian-born author Nadina Ronc stated this while talking to Gulf Today. Her memoir 'Daughters of Dissidents Need Not Apply' was recently published by The Dreamwork Collective in the UAE. While reflecting on home and belonging she said, 'As a refugee, I struggled with questions of identity, feeling torn between my Bosnian heritage and a British society that never fully embraced me. For many, searching for a home may never reach a definitive conclusion. But in this ongoing quest, we understand that belonging is not a destination but a journey. It's found in the quiet moments of connection: a shared conversation with a colleague, the comfort of a familiar accent, or the joy of seeing a neighbourhood that feels like 'home'.' The UAE's population totals 9.36 million, with 8.84 million immigrants. Dubai is home to 3.6 million people, 75% of whom are foreign-born. All this raises complex questions about identity, belonging, and the elusive concept of home in a transient world. For many immigrants in the UAE, home is fluid and evolving—a blend of memories, relationships, and places that feel alive. Many seek distance from governments, cultures, or identities that no longer fit. The country offers the chance to reinvent oneself and find new belonging. For those of us carrying the weight of war or persecution, the anonymity allows us to shed past identities and forge new stories, free from old labels.' On Immigration and Identity 'Immigration is rarely as simple as seeking a better life. For those fleeing war, political persecution, or instability, the process carries immense emotional weight—leaving behind family, language, and the comforting familiarity of home. In the UAE, however, immigration often represents a conscious choice—a decision to trade one kind of uncertainty for another, seeking the potential for opportunity and success. Yet even voluntary migration involves trade-offs. While the UAE offers freedom, it also demands flexibility. You must navigate a society that balances cosmopolitan influences with conservative traditions. The mix of cultures creates a dynamic social environment where individuals rise through skills and aspirations, transcending cultural and geographical divides. By maintaining their traditional identities and social circles, Emiratis coexist with a highly diverse population of over 200 nationalities. This pluralistic society fosters a sense of belonging within smaller communities based on shared interests, professions, or cultures while contributing to the country's collective progress.' Nadina fled Bosnia as a child in 1992 and found refuge in the UK. 'Writing my memoir was more than an exercise in storytelling; it was an effort to reclaim autonomy over my narrative. Dubai offered a unique platform to explore these themes further, and that is why I decided to publish my book here. When I began working with my editor at The Dreamwork Collective, she didn't just help me write; she guided me to open a portal to my past, to revisit the child I once was through the eyes of the adult I've become. I began to see the countless obstacles I had to overcome to get to where I am today. That process of truly diving into my past, of peeling back those layers of fear and memory, allowed me to take the reader on a raw and bumpy journey with me.' The 'Daughters of Dissidents Need Not Apply' published by The Dreamwork Collective is available on their website and on Amazon.
Mid East Info
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Mid East Info
The Dreamwork Collective launches Nadina Ronc's ‘Daughters of Dissidents Need Not Apply' - Middle East Business News and Information
New book charts real-life story of survival, identity, and the relentless search for justice Dubai-based publisher, The Dreamwork Collective, has launched a new title by Bosnian-born author, Nadina Ronc, charting the story of her life as a refugee after fleeing the war in her homeland. Now a journalist and foreign policy analyst, Ronc has released her memoir, Daughters of Dissidents Need Not Apply, to shine a light on the untold struggles in the aftermath of conflict. Exploring the themes of identity, loss, resilience, and the complex, lasting impact of war, the book explores the often-invisible challenges faced by refugees. Ronc, who fled Bosnia as a child in 1992 and found refuge in the UK, provides a deeply personal account of healing in the aftermath of unimaginable loss. The book follows her experience of the breakup of a country and the breakup of her family, and the political forces at play in both. Explaining her motivation to write the memoir, Ronc said, 'It was an overwhelming need to speak up and to confront the harsh realities that the world too often chooses to ignore. The injustice that still lingers, the voice that remains unheard, and the scars that never heal. When I began working with my editor at The Dreamwork Collective, she didn't just help me write; she guided me to open a portal to my past, to revisit the child I once was, through the eyes of the adult I've become. I began to see the countless obstacles I had to overcome to get to where I am today. That process of truly diving into my past, of peeling back those layers of fear and memory, allowed me to take the reader on a raw and bumpy journey with me.' Sharing one of the most vulnerable and perhaps relatable moments of her memoir, Ronc said, 'In Bosnia, there's this conservative mindset—this expectation that family life is always perfect, that everything is fine behind closed doors. But that's not the reality for everyone. By sharing these intimate details, I've torn down that facade and exposed the raw truth. I wanted to show that it's okay to acknowledge the flaws, the pain, and the fractures that exist in our personal lives, even when it's uncomfortable or difficult to do so. I hope to shed light on a truth that's often ignored or hidden—because healing starts when we stop pretending everything is 'peachy.'' The book's narrative is multi-layered, with a key focus on the strength and resilience of women in the post-war context. Ronc believes that the memoir will resonate with those who are passionate about understanding deep human emotions and the complexities of survival in the aftermath of conflict, and anyone with a curiosity about how war shapes identity, societies, and the future. Speaking about the messages that she hopes readers will take from the book, Ronc said, 'Through my personal journey, I aim to make visible the unseen struggles faced by those displaced by conflict, those who are forced to rebuild their lives—I want readers to understand that the scars of war go far beyond the battlefield. My hope is that this book sparks empathy, reflection, and a deeper understanding of the human toll that political conflicts impose, and that it reinforces the necessity of holding those in power accountable—both on a global scale and in our personal lives.' Meet Nadina Ronc at Kutubna Cultural Centre today. Daughters of Dissidents Need Not Apply is available online at The Dreamwork Collective
