Many Egyptian celebrities have recently been taking on projects in Saudi Arabia to broaden their horizons and seek more opportunities for their careers. While this can be a great step to grow and fulfill their future endeavors, there must be a balance between leaving behind one’s identity and striving to reach one’s personal goals.
Traditionally, entertainment productions originated in Egypt and, upon success, toured the MENA region. If we’re talking expansion, it wasn’t the other way around. However, there seems to be a growing trend to originate movies, shows, plays, etc., outside Egypt and later bring them back “home”, which is somewhat unusual.
This trend may explain the backlash celebrities have faced recently; it feels like big celebrities are just taking turns one after the other. While it’s normal to expand like any international artist seeking opportunities worldwide, the question remains: Where is the line drawn?
Taking on regional projects is a commendable step because staying in the same place for too long can prevent growth. However, this should not be an excuse to lose authenticity and identity like for example, accepting a foreign citizenship as a tribute to the arts or neglecting the entertainment scene in your mother country. Growth also involves holding on to one’s origin and always being grateful and representative of where one started.
We want to hear your thoughts. What do you think of celebrities moving their projects to the MENA region? Do they deserve the backlash, or is it just them sharing their art outside of Egypt?
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