By Manal El Warraky
Students in the Digital Media Department at the Faculty of Mass Communication at Cairo University are preparing to launch their innovative graduation project, “Origins,” a digital platform aimed at promoting Egypt’s multi-ethnic identity and highlighting the cultural and historical diversity that has shaped the Egyptian character throughout the ages.
The project comes as part of young people’s interest in promoting awareness of national identity in a modern way that keeps pace with the developments of the digital age. The “Origins” platform aims to revive Egypt’s cultural and historical heritage through rich digital content, including information and visual documentation about Egyptian identity in its various dimensions. This contributes to raising awareness of Egypt’s ancient history and fostering a sense of belonging among new generations.
The students produced a short film depicting the conflict between five main Egyptian identities: Pharaonic, African, Coptic, Islamic, and Arab. The film presents an innovative dramatic vision, where each identity is portrayed as an independent character striving to assert its existence. As the events escalate, the film delivers a central message: diversity is not a source of weakness, but rather the secret to the strength of Egyptian identity. This identity has never been static, but rather a seamless blend of the elements that have shaped Egypt throughout history.
The “Origins” project represents a creative model for using digital media to highlight issues of identity and culture, and reflects the youth’s ability to present a comprehensive vision that combines art and technology to revive Egyptian heritage in an engaging and inspiring way. Through the short film and digital platform, the students seek to emphasize the importance of preserving and promoting cultural heritage in the modern era.
