MACAO: Among the many queues of fans waiting to meet their idols at the largest content creator event in Macao, one stands apart and does not seem to end. It is for a man instantly recognizable throughout the Chinese-speaking influencer scene: Iraqi food vlogger Ahmed.
Dressed in a suit — as he typically does in his videos — he steps forward to warmly greet each guest, posing for photos, signing autographs, sharing laughs, and chatting about their lives in fluent Mandarin.
Born in Baghdad, Ahmed Mohammed Jaber Al-Kalthoom began learning the language after arriving in Northwestern China in 2014. Four years later, he released his first viral video in Chinese, which brought him to social media fame.
The video, filmed in Inner Mongolia, was about noodles.
“There are more than 1,000 types of noodles in China. It’s incredible. Every type has its own distinct flavor and ingredients,” Ahmed told Arab News on the sidelines of CreatorWeek Macao, one of the largest creator economy events in Asia.
