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Social media star Islam Afro adds local flavor to Arabic-dub of ‘Despicable Me 4’

Social media star Islam Afro adds local flavor to Arabic-dub of ‘Despicable Me 4’
Islam Afro voices Sensei O’Sullivan, a karate instructor, in the animated film. (Instagram)
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Updated 03 July 2024
Shyama Krishna Kumar
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Social media star Islam Afro adds local flavor to Arabic-dub of ‘Despicable Me 4’

Social media star Islam Afro adds local flavor to Arabic-dub of ‘Despicable Me 4’
Updated 03 July 2024
Shyama Krishna Kumar
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DUBAI: Egyptian social media star Islam Afro is bringing the laughs in the Arabic dub of “Despicable Me 4,” showing in cinemas across the Middle East from July 4.

The Dubai-based star voices Sensei O’Sullivan, a karate instructor. In an interview with Arab News, Afro said: “Sensei is a bit tough on kids and loves discipline. I recorded my voice for other characters; however, when I got the opportunity to do Sensei’s role, I felt it was the best fit and I am so glad the studio thought the same.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @islamafro

“We both have curly hair so that is a plus. I think Sensei is a unique character. I had to practice a lot (to ensure) that I hit the right pitch of voice for the character. The team in the studio helped and guided me to deliver in the best way possible.”

A lifelong film buff, Afro said he was over the moon to enter the world of cinema with Illumination, the production team behind “Despicable Me 4.”

“I was given such an amazing opportunity and was guided professionally throughout. I also want to highlight the efforts of the director and producer of the dubbing house in Egypt. They helped me deliver the character in the best way possible,” he said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @islamafro

He said the biggest challenge about voice dubbing was “having to repeat the voice multiple times and using different voice pitches. I had to excel in that because with animation your voice is the star. People can’t see your face, movement or body language.”

Afro said he was excited for movie fans across the Middle East to enjoy the film in its dubbed format.

“Having this sequel dubbed in Arabic and Egyptian dialect is a massive win for the industry. I would love for people to watch it in Arabic and to check how amazing the quality is, and the voices are,” he told Arab News. “The dialect and script chosen for the character is just perfect and the comedy side of the film is highlighted in a very nice way.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @islamafro

A social media star known for his comedy sketches, Afro hopes to further progress in the movie industry.

“I am currently working on a mini album, which I am super excited about and hope my audience will enjoy as we are using different styles this time around,” he said. “And after ‘Despicable Me 4’ and my role as Sensei, (I hope to) ultimately get into the movie scene and get more acting opportunities.”

Topics: Islam Afro Despicable Me 4

Lionel Boyce talks ‘The Bear’ season 3 and his emotional eulogy scene

Lionel Boyce talks ‘The Bear’ season 3 and his emotional eulogy scene
Updated 17 sec ago
Shyama Krishna Kumar
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Lionel Boyce talks ‘The Bear’ season 3 and his emotional eulogy scene

Lionel Boyce talks ‘The Bear’ season 3 and his emotional eulogy scene
Updated 17 sec ago
Shyama Krishna Kumar

DUBAI: US actor, writer and singer Lionel Boyce found fame as the mild-mannered pastry chef Marcus Brooks in FX on Hulu’s “The Bear,” streaming in the Middle East on Disney Plus.

In a show that can often be chaotic and anxiety-inducing, Boyce’s character is an island of calm.

Season three picks up with Marcus grieving the recent loss of his ailing mother, and his eulogy provides the season’s most touching scene.

In an interview with Arab News, Boyce joked that he felt terrified he first read the script for the episode.

“I just started reading the script and there was just a lot of words. But, no, I think the first thing I felt was … you just feel for him and it pierces your heart a bit,” he said.

“I think it was cool that you’ve learned about Marcus’ mom in season two in real time, just where she’s at, but you’d never learned who she was and who she was to him before that. Because in season two, you just see how he’s her caretaker. And this eulogy shows how she was the caretaker for him and protected him. And, so, I thought that was really special.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Lionel (@lionel.boyce)

Boyce avoided reading other famous monologues to prepare for the heart-wrenching scene, but he did remember thinking about a scene in the 2021 film “Judas and the Black Messiah,” featuring Daniel Kaluuya.

“Daniel Kaluuya is on a podium giving a speech. He starts with an emotion and he quickly covers it. I was watching it specifically because it has this arc to it, where he starts with fear and, by the end, he’s absolved of his fear. He’s releasing it. So, I just thought that was cool,” said Boyce.

“I think he reminded me that, in these scenarios, people are just trying to get through the words, you know. They’re trying to do hard stuff, push and suppress these feelings, you don’t want to end up crying. And it’s a hard thing.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Lionel (@lionel.boyce)

Asked to highlight some fun moments on set, Boyce said: “One of them was just the final scene of season three where they’re at a party at an apartment. That was a lot of fun. Because it was just like, you’re faking a party, but faking a party still means you have a real party. So, everyone is like listening to music, dancing and just like having fun. Even sitting around and hanging out felt very loose, free and fun.

“And then another one was purely because they had some king crab on set. And I love king crab. So, I gotta do some of that. And that was a highlight of my life.”

Topics: Lionel Boyce The Bear

Saudi artist Ahmed Mater on his solo show at Christie’s London 

Saudi artist Ahmed Mater on his solo show at Christie’s London 
Updated 51 min 28 sec ago
Rawaa Talass
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Saudi artist Ahmed Mater on his solo show at Christie’s London 

Saudi artist Ahmed Mater on his solo show at Christie’s London 
  • ‘Chronicles’ runs July 17 to August 22 and features a selection of work from the Nineties to the present day  
Updated 51 min 28 sec ago
Rawaa Talass

DUBAI: On July 17, Christie’s London will inaugurate a mid-career retrospective of one of Saudi Arabia’s most significant conceptual artists, Ahmed Mater. Showcasing photography, works on paper, and installation art, the “Chronicles” exhibition will feature a selection of Mater’s creations dating back to the Nineties, when he first started experimenting with painting.  

“Art is a time machine that everyone is looking for. Art can take us to the past and imagine the future, which is a powerful thing,” Mater tells Arab News.   

Mater was born in 1979 and worked as a doctor before rising to prominence in the art world with his X-Ray and magnet artworks, providing social commentary on changes happening within the Kingdom.  

Saudi Arabian contemporary artist Ahmed Mater. (Supplied)

“I always admired the work of Dr. Ahmed, who is from my generation and my age,” says the exhibition’s curator, Dr. Ridha Moumni, who is the chairman of Middle East and North Africa at Christie’s. “He’s an introspective artist that works on ideas, rather than mediums.  

“He’s an artist who can speak very well about his work, but, for me, he’s an artist who produces work that speaks to everyone in a different language,” Moumni continues. “His process of maturation can be seen on many layers — be it social, cultural, religious or political — that are present in his country and, by extension, in the Arab world.”    

Here, Mater discusses five pieces from his show, which runs until August 22. 

‘The Book of Magnetism’ 

This is a new artwork that I wanted to introduce in this exhibition. It is a continuation of an earlier magnet artwork I made, on a small scale, of the Ka’aba in Makkah. For me, “The Book of Magnetism” is important because it tells the story of knowledge and how it shapes our life and culture. The oldest invention known to mankind is the book. I presented this book in a way that emanates the holiness of religious books.  

‘Desert of Pharan’ 

This is one of the pieces in my “Desert of Pharan” series, a project related to Makkah, where I put hundreds of found objects, photographs and video art about the city into a single room. This photograph is called “Nature Morte.” The project as a whole tells the story of Islamic Makkah, one of the most visited cities on Earth, as well as showing a study of urban planning in the city. I’m showing how new urban phenomena has changed the city, and how Makkah will influence the future of Islamic cities around the world.  (Image courtesy of the Dalloul Art Foundation.)

‘Ashab Al-Lal’ 


This project is based on the idea of the mirage. It’s a project I’m creating for Wadi AlFann in AlUla. In the London exhibition, I’m showing this sculptural maquette of this upcoming artwork. It’s a form of public art. It’s a very environmental piece, connected to the land. I usually work with the ideas of exposure, the body and photography. This piece, using mirrors, reflects our bodies to the sky, like a real mirage. The idea is that you go inside a place in the desert, and when you are in the middle of this artwork, our bodies will reflect for other people to see. There is something theatrical about it too.  (Image courtesy of the Royal Commission for AlUla.)

‘Lightning Land’ 

“Lightning Land” is a photograph that has a very nice landscape with lightning happening in the middle. I took this photograph on the way to Dammam in Saudi Arabia. I was actually just taking a picture of the oil refinery and tent that you see in the image. On that afternoon, it was stormy and dusty, and I wanted to this take a picture for a dramatic effect. I didn’t edit anything. I kept it as it was. When the lightning happened, it felt like a good gift. It’s an image that says a lot. The image is poetic evidence of the transformation that is happening in Saudi Arabia.  

‘Our Mother House’ 

This is an old, patterned artwork that the curator Dr. Ridha found in my studio and decided to show in the exhibition. It’s not my painting, but my mother’s. She is a mural painter of ‘Al-qatt al-Asiri’ — painting on the walls of homes, which women do in the southern part of the Kingdom. It’s very symbolic and decorative. Each mural elegantly tells the story of a family and its social background.    

Topics: Ahmed Mater Christie’s London

Saudi TV personality Sara Murad launches her own fragrance brand 

Saudi TV personality Sara Murad launches her own fragrance brand 
Updated 05 July 2024
Shyama Krishna Kumar
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Saudi TV personality Sara Murad launches her own fragrance brand 

Saudi TV personality Sara Murad launches her own fragrance brand 
  • The Saudi TV personality branches out into entrepreneurship 
Updated 05 July 2024
Shyama Krishna Kumar

DUBAI: Saudi media personality Sara Murad has been a mainstay in Arab households for more than a decade, most recently as the presenter of MBC morning show “Sabah Alkhair Ya Arab.” 

“When someone tells me that I made a change in their life, it feels so rewarding and makes me want to give more,” Murad tells Arab News. 

As part of that effort to ‘give more,’ Murad decided last year to launch her own fragrance brand, By Sara Murad. 

The first fragrance from her brand is Black Oud. (Supplied)

“I’ve always wanted to be a businesswoman; I just never had the time or the right team to take the step. Putting everything together feels so exciting and gave me the drive to launch a brand,” Murad, who is now a Dubai resident, says. 

“Everyone loves fragrance, it’s embedded in our culture. And I have always been passionate about collecting them. But with By Sara Murad, I wanted to create something that would showcase our culture with a modern twist that could reach the world. And I wanted to create something with my name that I’ve been working on for so long,” she added. 

The first fragrance from her brand — Black Oud — is “a harmonious melding of French elegance and the pride of Saudi Arabia,” according to the publicity blurb, “blending notes of Oud, amber, wood and leather.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by By Sara Murad (@bysaramurad)

“Saudi Arabia is all the inspiration — including the change, the openness and invitation to the world, the inspiration that the country is giving to the youth and the empowerment that is giving us as women,” she says. “To see the Kingdom’s growth has been fascinating and makes me so proud. To see the opportunity that’s been given to women and men… it’s definitely a chance for the young to grow.” 

When she was a young adult, Murad would have never imagined she would find a career as a TV presenter. She graduated as a graphic designer and was interested primarily in advertising and production work. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by By Sara Murad (@bysaramurad)

“I never thought of (trying to get) a job in front of the camera. I believe everyone gets an opportunity but sometimes it is so out of our comfort zone that we reject it,” she says. “When I got offered the job, I challenged myself to try it, thinking that I had nothing to lose and that it would be an experience. And here I am,12 years later.” 

Her success was hard-won. “Honestly, it’s not a field where you meet people who want to help you grow, so I counted on myself and learned a lot — most of it the hard way,” she says. 

In the beginning, there were people who were surprised to learn that she was a Saudi woman. “But now the whole world knows what a Saudi woman is capable of,” she adds. 

Juggling a full-time job with a new business is, of course, no mean feat, and Murad makes it work by being organized at all times. 

“My days are never (the same). My schedule is always changing. There is always something new happening, whether it is the show I’m presenting, or a photo shoot, or working on a new fragrance. There is nothing typical about my life. But I try to manage as far as I can to give everything my full attention. So, I’m very, very organized. And working with a great team also helps a lot to reach my goals,” she says. 

“When it comes to de-stressing, I try to take it easy. I shut down work. I mean, I never shut down, who am I kidding? But I play the piano — that helps,” she continues. “I like to read, that also helps. And I like to travel a lot and change scenery as well, even if it’s for work.” 

Topics: Sara Murad

5 Dubai restaurants receive Michelin stars in 2024 guide

5 Dubai restaurants receive Michelin stars in 2024 guide
Updated 05 July 2024
Hams Saleh
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5 Dubai restaurants receive Michelin stars in 2024 guide

5 Dubai restaurants receive Michelin stars in 2024 guide
Updated 05 July 2024
Hams Saleh

DUBAI: Five restaurants in Dubai on Thursday received a Michelin star in the guide’s third edition for the Emirati city.

Four restaurants won one star each, while one restaurant received two stars.

A ceremony was held at One&Only One Za’abeel hotel to mark the release of the third edition.

Row on 45, a new addition to the guide, immediately earned two Michelin stars. Launched by acclaimed British chef Jason Atherton, the restaurant is located on the 45th floor of Grosvenor House in Dubai. The eatery offers a tasting menu for just 22 guests, featuring refined dishes that blend Japanese ingredients with French techniques.

Atherton got emotional on stage as he received the award. “It is just a dream come true, it really is. It takes a lot to stay in the kitchen for 36 years as a chef. All these people in the room work tirelessly to maintain standards for our guests. There are so many people I want to thank. I am just looking at the stars on the screen, oh my god. It is really a dream come true,” he said, tearing up.

The three two-star restaurants — Il Ristorante - Niko Romito, known for its Italian fare, Stay by Yannick Alleno, which serves French cuisine, and Trssind Studio, renowned for its modern Indian cuisine — retained their ratings from last year.

One star was awarded to Smoked Room, Sagetsu by Tetsuya, La Dame de Pic Dubai and Orfali Bros, run by three Syrian brothers, which was promoted from the Bib Gourmand.

Chef Mohamad Orfali, who founded the eatery with his two brothers, Wassim and Omar, said on stage as he received the award: “(We are) super happy and super excited. (We have a) big responsibility right now. Thank you so much to Dubai, the Michelin Guide and to everyone who supports us. Thank you to the community. I give this (award) to all the young Arab chefs, especially in Syria.”

Smoked Room entered the guide with a Michelin star. In 2024, chef Dani Garcia introduced Dubai diners to the sister restaurant of his flagship in Madrid, showcasing dishes prepared using fire and grilling techniques.

Sagetsu by Tetsuya, led by chef Tetsuya Wakuda and his team, combines Japanese and French culinary influences in serene surroundings. The restaurant earned a Michelin star in its first entry into the guide.

La Dame de Pic, acclaimed chef Anne-Sophie Pic’s debut in Dubai, was awarded a Michelin star for its modern French cuisine. Pic incorporates subtle local influences into some of her renowned signature dishes, bringing a unique twist to her celebrated culinary creations.

The restaurants that maintained their one-star rating from last year’s list are 11 Woodfire, Al-Muntaha, Armani Ristorante, Avatara, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in Atlantis The Royal, Hakkasan, Hoseki, Moonrise, Ossiano, Tasca by Jose Avillez and Torno Subito.

Six new establishments were added to the 2024 Bib Gourmand distinction list: Persian venue Berenjak, DUO Gastrobar, Korean spot Hoe Lee Low, ramen house Konjiki Hototogisu, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki at Dubai Hills and Indian dining spot Revelry.

The restaurants that retained their Bib Gourmand accolades were 21 Grams, 3Fils, Aamara, Al-Khayma Heritage Restaurant, Bait Maryam, Goldfish, Ibn Albahr, Indya by Vineet, Kinoya, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki at Dar Wasl, Shabestan and Teible.

The Bib Gourmand award, launched in 1997, highlights restaurants offering authentic and memorable culinary experiences at moderate prices.

The Guild restaurant received the Opening of the Year award, an accolade introduced in 2023, while the Service award was given to DuangDy by BO.LAN. Michael Mpofu from Celebrities by Mauro Colagreco won the Sommelier award, and Jesus Lobato Suarez at Smoked Room earned the Young Chef award.

The Green Star award was retained by Boca, Lowe and Teible. 

Topics: Michelin Guide Michelin Guide Dubai

Saudi actress Mila Al-Zahrani joins Boucheron’s Quatre collection anniversary campaign

Saudi actress Mila Al-Zahrani joins Boucheron’s Quatre collection anniversary campaign
Updated 04 July 2024
Arab News
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Saudi actress Mila Al-Zahrani joins Boucheron’s Quatre collection anniversary campaign

Saudi actress Mila Al-Zahrani joins Boucheron’s Quatre collection anniversary campaign
Updated 04 July 2024
Arab News

DUBAI: Saudi actress Mila Al-Zahrani has been selected as one of the new faces of Boucheron’s Quatre collection, joining the French brand as it celebrates the collection’s 20th anniversary.

This year marks two decades since the jewelry house introduced its Quatre collection, which features four patterns from the Boucheron archives and three shades of gold. 

To commemorate the milestone, Boucheron has released a new campaign featuring Al-Zahrani alongside three other women from the Middle East: Romanian Jordanian footwear designer Amina Muaddi, Lebanese singer Dana Hourani, and Turkish actress Dilan Çiçek Deniz.

“Once a Quatre girl, always a Quatre girl. Our family is growing,” Al-Zahrani wrote on Instagram, sharing a picture of herself adorned in wide, cuff-style bracelets with parallel band designs. 

Hourani wrote on Instagram: “So happy to announce that I have joined the @Boucheron Quatre family. Proud to be part of this new partnership with a visionary brand known for its innovation and cutting-edge designs. Lots happening this year, excited for what’s coming.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by AMINA MUADDI (@aminamuaddi)

Topics: Mila Al-Zahrani Boucheron

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