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The panel discussion, titled “Tales of Belonging” and moderated by television host and journalist Layla Mohammad, explored how real-life experiences, identity and cultural heritage form the backbone of compelling literature.
Jeffrey Mason, bestselling American author and founder of “Hear Your Story”, reflected on how his father’s death from Alzheimer’s inspired him to help others record their life stories. “The two-paragraph obituary didn’t do justice to my dad’s life,” he shared. “Every single person has an amazing, one-of-a-kind story that deserves to be heard and preserved for generations.”
Mason cautioned against overreliance on artificial intelligence in storytelling, saying that “AI will never be able to express the human experience and emotion.” He also warned that it risks narrowing creative diversity: “The gatekeepers decide which stories get told and who tells them, and that leaves out so many voices.”
From Mozambique, acclaimed writer Paulina Chiziane, who is the first woman novelist from her country, spoke about how her work is rooted in oral traditions and lived realities. “I learnt about art and culture by listening to my grandmother’s stories by the fire,” she said. “She told me that there’s an eagle inside me to look up and fly. Being here at SIBF feels like that flight fulfilled.”
Chiziane, who grew up during Portuguese colonial rule and amid gender inequality, emphasised the importance of representation and autonomy in literature. “For too long, others have spoken for us — from Western or male perspectives,” she said. “Now, it’s time for marginalised people to tell their own stories.”
Egyptian author, critic and translator Dr Huwaida Saleh highlighted that a writer’s sense of belonging often stems from layered identities. “My culture is multiple, sapping Egyptian, Arab, and Mediterranean, and I belong to every one of them,” she said. “Women are creators of life, and they must overcome the hurdles set by patriarchy. The voices of women and the marginalised are essential to understanding our societies.”
As Editor-in-Chief of Misr Al-Mahrousa, a magazine published by Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, Dr Saleh also questioned the creative integrity of AI. “Artificial intelligence cannot be honest the way a human storyteller can,” she said. “AI-generated books may have words but not soul.”
The session concluded with a lively audience Q&A and a book signing with the participating authors, whose insights underscored a shared conviction: that storytelling remains one of humanity’s most profound acts of connection, empathy, and self-expression.
Sharjah International Book Fair 2025 is organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme ‘Between You and a Book’, and runs for 12 days at Expo Centre Sharjah, welcoming authors, publishers and readers from 118 countries.
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