British Arabs Showcase Multifaceted Identities

Performers at the first Arabic Music and Cultural Festival in London.

In our first video produced for the Common Ground News Service, freelance journalist Nada Akl asks participants of last week’s Arab UK Festival to talk about their multi-faceted identities.

The first Arabic Music and Cultural Festival was held in London on June 26th. Different Arab communities in the city had the chance to gather and showcase elements of their cultures with live music , art exhibits and fashion shows. It was an opportunity for Britons of all backgrounds to experience the diversity of their city and an opportunity to reflect on what multiculturalism really means.

Nada Akl, a Lebanese student pursuing a Master’s degree in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, interviewed many of the people who were attending the event.  All of the interviewees had interesting stories to share, ranging from tales of war and exile to stories about love between people from different backgrounds.

“Multiculturalism is not just the messy result of Britain’s imperial past,” Akl writes, for CG News. “It’s more than that, it’s about people and places that keep redefining themselves in terms of their stories, encounters and experiences.”

Below, check out some of Nada’s interviews with participants in the festival talking about their multi-faceted identities: