There’s nothing stronger than the bond between a father and a son, and this month’s cover story proves just that. But how does it feel to have to work twice as hard to come out of the shadow of a superstar parent, and make a career of your own?
Photo: Sam Rawadi
This was one of the most interesting points debated by our cover stars, Lebanese music icon Ragheb Alama and his son Louai, who is set to become Arabia’s next male modeling sensation. As sons, and talking about my own personal experience, it’s not always easy to meet the expectations of our parents. Before we are born, our fathers hope and dream that we inherit the same talents and passions they enjoy. My father loves rugby and works in the aviation field. I love gymnastics and am the person on the planet with the worst sense of orientation who could definitely not fly an airplane from point A to B without getting lost. Things naturally fall into place as we grow up and blossom into our own selves, but managing these adjustments can be tricky.
Human interactions are quite challenging, especially in the context of today where physical and digital are so intertwined. When I heard that there’s a program that allows you to create and date an AI girlfriend, I was mesmerized by the concept, and instantly commissioned a story about this phenomenon. In this issue, journalist Mark Lomas created an avatar to suit his preferences in the real world, and crafted the personality of his digital lover. The romance didn’t last long, but it was brilliantly documented in the article titled “Me, Myself, and AI” (and there’s also a video diary you can’t miss on our website). I hope Mark’s wife didn’t get upset with me over this – it was all done in the name of good journalism.
One of the coolest parts of editing the publication is the opportunity to compile spectacular achievers who raise the bar, and showcase the male talent that comes from our part of the world. In this issue, we have Middle Eastern footballers making it big in the main international leagues, an Algerian actor taking France by storm, and a Qatari royal committed to exporting and exposing Arab creatives to the United States. In this moment of instability we are all living through in the region, there’s nothing like being proud of what we have to offer – to ourselves and to the world – and waving the flag of Made in Arabia.
