In presence of HH Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, global superstar tells full house all about the power of storytelling and more, urging young people to disconnect and rediscover real-world clarity
Sharjah, 15 November
In the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), global icon Will Smith received a rapturous welcome as he took the stage at the 44th edition of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2025 for a sold-out conversation titled “The Power of Storytelling”.
Ahead of stepping on stage, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour presented Smith with a signed copy of her newly launched book, Let Them Know She Is Here: Searching for the Queen of Mleiha. The exchange sparked a profound moment of connection for the star, who later told the audience how deeply the conversation had affected him.
Speaking candidly, Smith said: “I feel like there are parts of me that I have not explored and expressed. I feel that the things I have shared with the world are 10% of what’s going on in my head. Her Highness Sheikha Bodour and I were speaking earlier, and we were talking about the idea of dreams and visions, and my heart jumped because there was a book that I was writing, and Sheikha was speaking about the dreams and visions behind her current book, and I realised I’ve never been brave enough to say that I have dreams and visions too. What drives me now is trying to find the courage to fully express myself”.
This moment set the tone for a wide-ranging conversation that blended introspection, humour, and hard-earned wisdom from a career spanning nearly four decades. Smith remarked on the beauty of continuing to resonate with audiences of all ages: “It’s beautiful to see that from one generation to the next, you can remain relevant — and I don’t think that comes by luck. There’s something you have to do to stay current.”
He went on to explain that the key lies in tapping into universally relatable emotions and stories. “Birth, death, marriage, sickness – everyone goes through these experiences. I’m always looking for the part of a story that everyone understands, the part that doesn’t need language to translate. That’s the power of global storytelling.”
Smith’s advice to the digital generation: Disconnect to reconnect
When discussing the pressures of social media, Smith, a father of three, delivered one of the session’s most memorable messages. With refreshing honesty, he urged young people to step away from the constant flood of online content.
“If you’re consuming that all day, it’s like trying to eat cake and candy every day and expect to stay healthy. You really can’t,” he said. “You have to disconnect from social media, and spend time in solitude, in nature, or reading instead of scrolling. That detox is critical because constant exposure can poison your mind.”
He added that even icons are not immune: “You have to be a real sage to consume it without it affecting you. Think of it like bad food; sometimes you just need to step away and give your mind a break.”
Storytelling, the Middle East, and millennia of untapped narratives
Reflecting on the region’s creative potential, Smith shared his excitement at the Middle East’s cultural evolution: “It’s one of the only places on earth with thousands of years of stories that haven’t been mined on a global scale. Drawing parallels with the global rise of African American storytelling, he added: “Some things go beyond race, creed, colour, and culture. Those universal ideas — that’s where I live, and that’s where I work.”
His remarks tied back to his earlier exchange with Her Highness Sheikha Bodour and the theme in her new book, reinforcing the importance of cultural preservation, imaginative courage, and the human instinct to seek meaning through narrative.
Drawing from his own journey of self-discovery and creative reinvention, Smith also referenced key lessons explored in his best selling memoir, Will, noting that the process of writing the book pushed him to confront vulnerability, redefine success, and embrace authenticity, lessons he continues to share with audiences around the world.
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