Podcast from Abu Dhabi - Hall 8
Since its establishment in 1987, the Arab World Institute in the heart of Paris has served as an open window to Arab culture, with a particular focus on North African cultures and their evolving artistic expressions.
In this session, we shed light on the Institute's role in preserving and showcasing Maghrebi heritage, and how it has contributed to re-narrating stories of migration and belonging through visual arts, music, and living memory.
We discuss how identity, art, and nostalgia intersect in artistic projects and living museums that pulse with stories, and how these spaces have become platforms for self-expression and the re-shaping of the collective memory of North African communities in France.
This session is not just a discussion but a cultural journey through exhibitions and archives, showing how art becomes a language of resistance, dialogue, and a bridge between the two shores.
Historian and a specialist in the cultural history of North African immigration to France
Naima Huber-Yahi is a historian, writer, art director, and exhibition coordinator specializing in the cultural history of North African immigration to France. Born on June 7, 1977, in Tourcoing, France, to Algerian parents who worked in the textile industry, she grew up in Tourcoing and continued her studies at the University of Lille III in Villeneuve d'Ascq, where she earned a degree in cultural history. She later completed her Ph.D. under the supervision of historian Benjamin Stora, with a thesis titled "Exile Wounds My Heart: For a Cultural History of Algerian Artists in France 1962-1987."
Naima has held prominent positions in the cultural field, including serving as the director of the "Pangée Network" association in Paris from 2011 to 2017 and as the general coordinator of the "Remembeur" association since 2018. Her work focuses on cultural history and heritage related to North African immigration to France.
Among her significant achievements are coordinating exhibitions, producing art, and working on cinematic projects.
Cultural Programming Officer
Arab World Institute
is a distinguished cultural figure working at the Arab World Institute in Paris, where she is responsible for programming and organising cultural events. Her role includes curating art exhibitions, musical performances, literary gatherings, and intellectual forums aimed at showcasing the richness and diversity of Arab culture. Through her work, she actively promotes intercultural dialogue between the Arab world and Europe, particularly France.