Al-Ahram Weekly   Al-Ahram Weekly
21 - 27 October 1999
Issue No. 452
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 Issues navigation Current Issue Previous Issue Back Issues
Sosostris

Pack of Cards

By Madame Sosostris

* A few days ago, I was invited to a very special ceremony during which my very dear friend Yvette Farazli was made Chevalier des Arts et Lettres. The decoration was awarded to her in her own home in Garden City by HE JM Rochereau de la Sablière, the French ambassador to Egypt. Once the impressive medal had been securely pinned on Yvette's dress and profuse congratulations proffered and graciously received, the most scrumptious of dinners was served, Yvette Farazli proving once more that Yvette is not only one of the most staunch supporters of Francophonie, but is also thoroughly conversant with gastronomie. Yvette's best friends all came to see her receive the knighthood, among them Vincent Grimaud, cooperation et cultural action counsellor, and a newcomer at the French embassy; famous Egyptian actor Gamil Ratib; dear Doctor Robert Akkad, who has tended to all of us in times of illness; Khalil Sabat, professor emeritus of journalism at Cairo University and his adorable wife; and many, many others.

* The French were kept busy handing decorations out to deserving Egyptians this week: On Monday, the French President Jacques Chirac awarded the head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Gaballah Ahmed Gaballah, the Légion d'Honneur. In the speech he delivered on the occasion, French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sablière said Gaballah was one of the world's most important experts in the history and customs of Egyptian society during the second millennium BC.

Day of the Child

* Artist Mohamed Mandour is exhibiting some of his wonderful work at Durub Gallery in Garden City these days. This, my dears, is one of the very few times Mandour's work has been on show this year and if I were you, lovelies, I would really hurry to Garden City -- though the parking is not something to look forward to. Anyway, I knew Mandour in the good old days, when it was even more difficult to see his plates and vases and one had to don running shoes to clamber over the rocks surrounding his studio in Al-Fakharin. Even then, however, I thought the work of this gifted artist was well worth the effort.

 
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Ahl El-Kahf

* The other day, I went to visit a friend who was looking after her grandson while his mother was at work. I had expected to spend my time glaring at the little monster, who, I was sure, would stop us from drinking our tea quietly while exchanging our weekly gossip. To my utter surprise, the child never even tried to attract our attention. I was quite curious to see what was making him so quiet, and soon discovered he was clutching a book called Ahl Al-Kahf (The People of the Cave). Further investigation revealed it is the first of a series published by Ibrahim El-Moallem's Dar Al-Shurouq, which recounts episodes from the Qur'an. What is new here is that the books are creatively presented in the form of cartoon strips, both interesting and easy to read. Kariman Hamza has written the text,which Walid Helal adapted into a script and Galal Omran is responsible for the fascinating illustrations. If you have little ones, do try to get hold of these books: they will make great gifts.

Mulid!

* Still on the chapter of books, my good friend Mark Linz, director of the American University in Cairo Press, has invited me to attend a Book and Author Reception in the garden of the Rare Books and Special Collections Library. This, of course, is nothing so unusual since dear Mark would not dream of launching a book without making sure that I am there to wish it good luck. What is so unique, though, is that the author and photographer are both closely connected to Al-Ahram Weekly, being none other than our very own Tarek Atia and Sherif Sonbol. I am really looking forward to the reception on 25 October, which will feature not only the book, Mulid! Carnivals of Faith, but special mulid attractions too.

Aida

* Al-Ahram Weekly is really in the limelight this week: I just received a gorgeous little booklet published by Cairo Opera House and sponsored by Mobinil -- always ready, as you may well know, to promote the art of sound. I bet you have not guessed what I am talking about, but I will tell you right now: our own brilliant music critic David Blake has joined forces with our gifted photographer Sherif Sonbol to produce a delightful history of Opera Aida, which is both informative and beautifully illustrated. Both David and Sherif made it a point to remember the Weekly, acknowledging the help extended by our editor-in-chief, Hosny Guindy, and dedicating the book to our assistant to the chief editor, Mona Anis

Ann Marie Harrison

* And darlings, while I was celebrating the publication of these interesting books this week I also found time to grace the 20th-anniversary celebrations of Egypt's leading English-language magazine, Egypt Today. The grand gala event, held at the Cairo Marriott, was attended by over 800 businessmen, executives, expatriates, diplomats and close friends, who hummed and tapped their feet to the suave strains of Yehia Khalil and his band. Ann Marie Harrison, chairman of the International Associates Group, which publish Egypt Today, and our dear Mursi Saad El-Din, editor-in-chief of the magazine, welcomed guests in an opening speech. The public relations staff of the Cairo Marriott presented the publisher of the magazine with an elaborate cake to commemorate the event.

Kazem

* The Academy of Arabic Music selected a Tunisian composer for its first prize in 1999 and chose the Festival of Arabic Music at the Opera House as the most distinguished musical happening of the year. Veteran opera singer and former head of the Egyptian Opera House Ratiba El-Hefni who represents the academy, selected Mustafa Nagui, present head of the Opera, famous Arab singer Kazem El-Saher and conductor Khaled Fouad for special awards which were presented by Secretary-general of the Arab League Esmat Abdel-Meguid. Later, pop idol Kazem El-Saher kept the audience enthralled.

Lovely wedding

* Have you ever been at a wedding where you were not sure of the groom's identity? This happened to me last week at the reception held for cardiologist Ashraf Nashed (the son of my dear friends, dental surgeon Dr Nagui Nashed and his wife Ratiba Ghali, professor of oral biology at the Faculty of Dental Medicine), and his bride Dr Dina Bedwani (the daughter of Ihab Bedwani, director of the General Taxation Department and his wife Dr Buthayna Surour of the Biochemical Research and Control Centre). Ashraf has an identical twin, Medhat, an orthodontist, and to mystify the guests they were dressed exactly alike, which really gave no clue as to who was who. Cairo's medical community was well represented, and I giggled merrily at the puzzled looks of the well-wishers, who were probably wondering if they were congratulating Ashraf or Medhat. Medhat, meanwhile, smiled mischievously every time well-wishers congratulated him by mistake; but then, could it not have been Ashraf himself, pretending to be his twin brother? Dina who just defended her PhD thesis in nephrology, written under the supervision of Professor Dr Rashad Barsoum, just four days before the wedding, will settle with her groom (I'm sure she can tell the difference) in Louisiana.

yet another Lovely wedding

* More wedding cakes were dug into as lieutenant Ahmed Mohamed Youssef Habib (the son of our dear friendMohamed Youssef Habib, director of Al-Ahram's Classified Adds Department) celebrated his wedding to Rania (the daughter of Major-General Mohamed Ali Feleifel, commander of the Armed Forces' parachute units). The writing of the marriage contract was witnessed by the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Dr Nasr Farid Wassel. The bride, groom, the groom's sister, our colleague Iman, family and guests celebrated the happy occasion at the Shepheard's Hotel. Among the distinguished guests were Lieutenant-General Magdi Hetata, chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces, Said Mush'il, minister of military production, Major-General Mohsen El-Salawi, secretary-general at the Defence Ministry, Major-General Samir Farag, director of the Morale Affairs Department of the Armed Forces, as well as important personalities from the government and armed forces. Al-Ahram was also well represented: Hassan Hamdi, general manager for advertising, was there, together with a number of distinguished guests from Al-Ahram Advertising department and agency, among them Medhat Mansour, Ahmed Kamel Awad and Fathi Fahmi.