An Emirati Eye: Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Newest Columnist Aida Al Busaidy On Why Arabs Love A Little Drama In Their Lives
Why do Arabs – especially those with a creative streak – ignite, enflame and even enjoy a bit of drama in their lives? The renowned communications strategist and storyteller Aida Al Busaidy, explores the topic in her debut Bazaar Arabia column.
There’s no shortage of drama when you find yourself in a setting with Arab women. I know – wow! Did I really just say that? Yes, I did, but let’s delve a little deeper so you understand where I’m coming from. Over time, the word ‘drama’ has evolved in its interpretation. Originally used to mean artistic expression or performance, it has now become far more expansive. It’s no longer just a series or a weighty piece of theatre, but can now be showcased in short-form content, in a meme, in a mere 140 characters… or right here, in my inaugural column to you.
I wanted to introduce you to a side of my personality that really connects with drama. It may well be responsible for roughly 10 per cent of the creation of drama in my personal life, too. Because although I may hold my tongue in instances where I could be expressing the full extent of my emotions instead, I do admit to frequently administering a good old eye roll. In fact, I am a master of the move.
Why am I so unafraid of a sprinkling of it here and there? Because I see drama as an essential, unavoidable part of life. It teaches you crucial lessons about yourself, about others, and about the world around you. You can either choose to run away from it, or you can embrace it, shaping your character (and even having a bit of fun) along the way. After all, what’s life without a bit of flavour? And for Arab women, drama certainly comes in layers with levels of spiciness, too. A side-eye, a snide comment or even an obvious eye roll (my speciality) are all part of our ethos – and we can use any one of them to dial the drama up, down, fuel it or even end it altogether. You know the expression, ‘Save the drama for your mama’? It’s not for us.
Drama has been a core part of the Arab region’s artistic values, too; integral to movie plots, twist-filled television series and musical numbers. Being Arab means you have 25 varieties of drama playing out on screen at any given time; a colourful stream of phrases, words, accents, sounds, screams and yells that can be fully utilised to represent a whole gamut of emotions.
These hour-long, multi-episode series from Egypt to Kuwait and usually reserved for Ramadan, set the scene – and expectations – with highly dramatic names like Borders of Evil or Al Laqeeta (which translates to The One Who Was Thrown Away Then Picked Up). Senses are further heightened with equally dramatic music, as show promos and marketing continue the onslaught. Stories are filled with unexpected turns, with the cast really making the drama… well, dramatic. The amount of screaming, shouting and crying involved in these series inevitably leads to memes, jokes, and you guessed it – sometimes even more drama.
The question one may ask is: does life imitate art or is it the other way around? Could it even be, perhaps, a combination of the two? Either way, the next time you find yourself in the midst of some drama, don’t despair. Look on the bright side: just think how much entertainment it might be bringing to those watching it unfold.
Photography: Efraim Evidor. Styling: Imogene Legrand. Aida wears: Abaya, DHS2,125, 1309 Studios. Dress, Aida’s own. Make-up: Sarah Saya. Special thanks to One&Only The Palm.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September 2023 issue.