UAE-based vlogger breaks Middle East stereotypes in YouTube campaign

Since the video was launched in Los Angeles, USA, last week, it has gathered over 350,000 views on YouTube.

In a bid to challenge stereotypes, a group of three young Arabs got together to create a music video that showed the part of the Middle East that the West had limited knowledge about.
As part of YouTube's global Creators for Change campaign, UAE-based travel vlogger Haifa Beseisso was selected among 50 ambassadors across the world to use the platform to foster conversations around tough issues and make a positive impact either through celebrating cultures, advocating for global empathy, or tackling self-acceptance.
The Palestinian expat chose to tackle the stereotypes against the Middle East. "It was always my childhood dream to show the truth of the Middle East. What I see in the movies has always upset me and I don't believe it's true to who we are.
"I am very hungry to show the real generosity we have," said Beseisso, also known as Fly with Haifa.
Working on the seven-minute music video for four months, Beseisso takes viewers on a tour around the Middle East, featuring influencers from different parts of the Arab world - including Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia - rapping about the best parts of their culture.
"It took four whole months from writing the idea and lyrics to composing the music. We wrote each one, shot by shot," said Beseisso, who worked on the video with two others and joined by volunteers across the Middle East.
Since the video was launched in Los Angeles, USA, last week, it has gathered over 350,000 views on YouTube.
As part of the campaign, Beseisso received "promotional support" to aid the creation of an impactful project. "I decided to use that funding to tour the Middle East and make a musical," she said.
The video, titled Stereotype World: The Middle East speaks up, starts off with Beseisso holding a videotape and then playing it, showing a short scene of a man on a carpet followed by an appearance of other men as bombers.
The scene sheds light on associating the Arab culture with "terrorism".
"Welcome you all to the Middle East, I invite you all to walk with me, because I want to show you a side of us that you might not know yet," Beseisso is heard rapping. The influencers then begin a tour of the Arab countries.
"We did a girl rap part with people from all over the Arab world, saying we are powerful and are actually proud of the men in our life," said Beseisso.
The end of the video sees Beseisso also breaking stereotypes about Asians, Latinos, and Africans. "It isn't only about Arabs; the whole world struggles with misconceptions. Our main aim was to break these incorrect images and look beyond to the beautiful parts of every culture," she said.
The future generation, she noted, will help build bridges of love and understanding.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Dubai