Written by: Mohammed Omran
Given the growing role it plays soft power In promoting rapprochement between peoples, art continues to establish its position as one of the most important tools of human and cultural communication, due to its ability to convey shared feelings and experiences beyond geographical boundaries and social differences.
The participation of Africans in key roles is an important step towards diversity.
In recent years, the Arab and African art scene has witnessed remarkable activity in terms of cooperation and exchange of experiences, along with growing calls to give African artists more space within Arab artistic works, reflecting the cultural diversity of the African continent and enhancing its presence on screens.
In this context, Sudanese artist Islam Mubarak confirmed in exclusive statements to «Zoom Africa News» that art is one of the strongest tools of soft power capable of removing barriers between peoples and building bridges of understanding and human rapprochement.
Islam Mubarak said: «When an Egyptian watches a Sudanese film and cries along with it, or a Sudanese watches an Egyptian series and feels that this is his story, the walls between people fall apart, and art shows us that our pain is one and our dream is one, and this is a bridge that is difficult to break.».
She added that artworks possess a unique ability to create empathy among peoples because they convey shared human stories that transcend differences in nationality and culture, noting that audiences respond to genuine emotions wherever they may be.
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She explained that there has been a clear development recently, which is that producers and directors have greater courage to involve Black and African actors in major and influential roles, instead of limiting their presence to marginal roles, stressing that this step reflects a growing awareness of the importance of diversity and real representation within artistic works.
She emphasized that the stories being presented today are more profound and closer to reality, which helps to offer a more authentic picture of African societies and their diverse issues. She also praised the Luxor African Film Festival, considering it a significant step in the right direction towards supporting African cinema and promoting cultural and artistic exchange among the peoples of the continent.
