Jack Lang is one of the prominent intellectuals, educators, and legal professionals in France. He contributed to the enrichment of French culture, when he was the Minister of Culture in France from 1981 until 1986, and again from 1988 until 1993. He was also the Minister of National Education from 1992 to 1993, and from 2000 to 2002.
Lang added a lot to the Arab culture by presiding over the Arab World Institute in Paris from 2013 until the present date. During the mandate of Lang, the Arab World Institute, founded in Paris in 1980, organized cultural workshops, concerts, conferences, exhibitions, festivals, and many unique activities inside and outside France, especially in Saudi Arabia. He received a special honor from the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Arab World Institute, the building for which was designed by Jean Nouvel, was created to document the Arab culture with its different beliefs and religions.
During a long talk between Jack Lang and Al-Majalla in his office in Paris, he discussed the role of the Arab World Institute in activating the relationship between French and Arab cultures and creating a constructive cultural dialogue with each other.
The former socialist minister explained what he considers “a cultural revolution” in Saudi Arabia, and applauded the changes happening in Saudi Arabia. He also expressed his amazement by the volume of work accomplished by the Prince bin Salman and his team, saying that it is an unprecedented and unique work.
Minister Lang (82 years old), who was born into a rich family and studied law and political science, talked also about his book “The Arabic Language-Treasure of France” through which he highlighted the high status of the Arabic language which is classified as the fifth of the six languages of the United Nations.
At the end of the interview, Mr. Lang congratulated Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the February 22, 2022, celebration of the first anniversary of the founding of the first Saudi state about 300 years ago.
The interview reads as follows:
- What is the mission of the Arab World Institute and its major future projects?
- The mission of the Arab World Institute is to reveal the depth of the different countries, and the beauty, strength, and greatness of the Arab cultures. We cannot achieve anything great if we don’t succeed through education, culture, art, and information, and if we don’t integrate the history and present of the Arab culture with the people of the Western countries and all the countries of the world.
When I was the Minister of Culture during the mandate of François Mitterrand, I built this place to turn it into a high-end center for the Arab culture. One of the main missions of the Institute is to highlight all facets of the Arab culture or cultures. The projects range from exhibitions, forums, meetings, concerts, and publications. It is really a unique Institute in the world and no other capital in the world hosts such Institute.
- The Saudi culture aims at enhancing values of peace and dialogue among people, disseminating cultures, establishing relations with others… What do you think of the cultural and intellectual support happening in Saudi Arabia since the announcement of Saudi Vision 2030?
- I greatly admire the measures taken in the recent years by the Saudi authorities for education and culture. A true cultural revolution is happening today in Saudi Arabia, and that is amazing. I was a minister for 10 years, and I am the president of this Institute, so I may say to you that I don’t know any country in the world where such a revolution is taking place. When I see the changes made in Saudi Arabia, I think that they are amazing! Politics, culture, art, cinema, music, theatre, literature, an unprecedented support for the Arabic language, modernization, creation of museums. That’s really impressive, and the work done by Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and his team is remarkable.
We are observing today a deep cultural reality in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are initiatives related to women and youth. I am also noticing today that the youth and women are feeling excited about this modern policy of a State that supports art and culture in order to build a cultured and unique Arabic society. That makes me really happy.
It is fortunate that Prince bin Farhan is in charge of the Ministry of Culture in Saudi Arabia, as he is a visionary modern man who prepares for the future.
In my opinion, the measures that are currently being taken in Saudi Arabia are a true revolution, because Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has a fruitful vision of the future. It is not merely a vision as a result of the achievements that are happening right now. Prince Mohammed Bin Salman knew that his country won’t be able to progress unless it relied on innovation, youth, women, and institutions, and that is amazing. Saudi Arabia is a big country that eventually had to take a step towards modernity without renouncing its customs and beliefs. I feel happy today to go to a Jeddah or Riyad that has become an international cultural capital. The situation has completely changed, which requires a lot of political courage, intelligence, and vision.
What is currently taking place in Saudi Arabia today is not just words, everywhere we are seeing festivals, events, museums, cinemas, theatres, universities, and research centers. We in the West are oblivious to these changes. I kindly ask our friends in Saudi Arabia, why don’t you enhance more the knowledge of the positive activities that you are doing? I am maybe the only one talking outside about what is happening in Saudi Arabia, this amazing cultural life.
I participated in December in the first Red Sea International Film Festival, and that was amazing. I am going in few days to Jeddah for a three-day seminar on contemporary art, and I will be participating at the same time in the AlUla Council to discuss how to develop this wonderful site. I find this amazing and exciting.
I am also involved in a number of initiatives, and I am thinking especially of AlUla. We will organize here a big exhibition for many months in AlUla, and it will travel around the world. We will present an AlUla exhibition in China’s Forbidden City, then in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and afterwards in other countries.
Talks are underway to coordinate the tour of a number of exhibitions from the Arab World Institute through several cities of Saudi Arabia, for instance, the exhibition on the divas of the Arab world, like Umm Kulthum, Feirouz, and Warda. Prince Bader approved this idea, and that’s what is being discussed with the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia. I would like to send a message to say that the exhibition is amazing and it will travel to Saudi Arabia. I would love if it goes to other Arab and Western countries. Through Al-Majalla magazine, I request everyone interested in the event to contact us in order to organize the tour of the Umm Kulthum, Feirouz, and Warda exhibition as well as the Saudi artist Mohammed Abdo, across and outside of the Kingdom.
- You wrote a book entitled “The Arabic Language-French Treasure.” Can you tell us more about it and what made you write it?
- Teaching the Arabic language is part of the Arab World Institute’s mission. Since I head the Institute, I try my best to teach the Arabic Language not only in the Institute, but also in schools and universities. Among the unique initiatives that we took is “The International Certificate in The Arabic Language” to assess the different levels of the knowledge of students. This system is similar to the TOEFL in the English language. It is unprecedented, it may seem strange, but that does not exist in the Arab World. We took this initiative and many countries helped so we can issue this International Certificate. It is a great success.
- How is the relationship between Francophone and Gulf countries?
- It is true that cultural and linguistic conflicts can come together. I am fond of the French and also the Arabic languages. I say sometimes in meetings that French and Arabic languages have the same struggle in order to ensure the protection of both languages. It is a very broad subject, great national languages are under a threat of being weakened through common use, publicity, and marketing. I also think that even in Arabic countries, the Arabic language, even literary and spoken, should be preserved. I notice that in some countries, young people find it easy to speak in English more than in their national language. It is similar to what is happening in France and Germany, which is unfortunate. Modern languages should be preserved, for they are the treasure of humanity. We are working here in favor of the Arabic language, and I hope that others will work in favor of the French and German languages. I also think that multilingualism will constitute a true challenge. Younger generations have to learn two or three languages and also preserve their own national language. It is a highly important matter, or else we will speak a bland international language that is missing life, color, and a special nature, and we will completely break the relation with the past. We can shift towards modernity like the Crown Prince, but at the same time we have to preserve the cultural heritage as well as the culture. What is interesting in the policy of the Minister of Culture, Prince Bader Bin Farhan, and the Saudi authorities is that they established twelve independent agencies, one of which is dedicated to the Arabic language and culture, one for the cinema, one for the music, and one for visual arts. It is very important for the cultural policy not to forget the importance of the language of each country. I feel that a great effort is being made today in Saudi Arabia to encourage people to love, discover, and maintain Arabic and other languages. It is a great work done by the Saudi Minister of Culture and his team. I can talk for hours about Saudi Arabia which is considered an exceptional and unique country. I hope that this continues. Furthermore, the architectural projects of the Crown Prince are notable, for instance, he entrusted Jean Nouvel, architect of Arab World Institute, with the execution of a kind of resort in AlUla. The project is magnificent and it shows the beauty of the site.
- What do you think of the cultural and intellectual life in Gulf countries apart from Saudi Arabia?
- The intellectual and cultural life in other Gulf countries is also rich. I think that in Bahrain, Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, accomplished a great deal working to revive the heritage by developing the pearl hunting trade and establishing a place for exhibitions. She is a remarkable woman. Many figures in Kuwait are also working to preserve its cultural heritage. At last, I can talk about the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed did a lot, in fact he was behind the establishment of the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi. He went to the French President and proposed the creation of this big museum, the architect of which is Jean Nouvel. Everything started with Jean Nouvel here in Paris when I chose him with Mitterrand to build this place. He became a star in Arab countries especially in the Gulf countries. Furthermore, Dubai and Abu Dhabi host amazing events, like the Expo that accomplished a great success with its wonderful pavilions, like the UAE pavilion and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pavilion. Drastic changes are taking place. It is important to say that in these countries, wealth is being invested in education, culture, beauty, and instruction, which means the future and the youth. It is an important milestone in the politics adopted in Gulf countries especially in recent years.
- Umm Kulthum came to France in 1967, did you attend the concert?
- I was lucky to hear Umm Kulthum in Cairo. I was still a student on a trip to Cairo, Egypt, and by chance my friends obtained two tickets for me and my wife. We discovered for the first time Umm Kulthum and that was before she came to Paris. We were mesmerized and fascinated by her amazing voice. We were in an old-fashioned theatre, so we wondered if we went to the wrong place, but it was correct. Suddenly, Umm Kulthum appeared from behind the curtains or rather from in front of them. It was incredible how men sang with her and accompanied her. It is unforgettable. I also had a chance to encounter Feirouz when I was also a student on a trip to Lebanon, then she came to France. When I became minister, I awarded her the Legion of Honor, and we stayed in contact. I also met Warda. I had the chance, whether as a spectator, citizen, or minister to meet all these divas that mesmerized the world and are still touching the hearts of millions of people especially in Arab countries and others. They are truly a treasure that shall be preserved.
- Do you have any favorite song for Umm Kulthum?
- No, I don’t have a specific song. I love her songs without exception, and how she can draw out a note or a syllable and prolong her voice for minutes and then reach a higher note. Her dexterity is remarkable in addition to the way of singing in harmony.
- What about the Saudi Arabic singer Mohammed Abdo?
- Mohammed Abdo is a true star, an international icon. I am happy that he can travel all over the world as well as in Saudi Arabia. What’s great today is that he is still among you. There are many amazing singers and musicians. It is great that almost every week, we hear about concerts in one city or another, especially amazing electronic concerts. Today, Saudi Arabia is the country that we should go to, where there is life, music, dance, and imagination. Not only the big stars, but all the people are vibrant. It is finally a place where we live with music, art, theatre, and cinema. It is amazing.
- Saudi Arabia is celebrating its Founding Day on February 22, what would you like to say?
- On the Founding Day of the State, I would like to say that every time I go to the residence of the Saudi Ambassador to France, who is a remarkable man, I see that he makes sure to speak in French and Arabic. He is a francophone. It is time that we say to all the friends of Saudi Arabia, thank you for your commitment to development, peace, progress, culture, and education. I hope in this year, on the occasion of the Founding Day, to address my best wishes and respect to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and to the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
