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Al-Ahram Weekly 13 - 19 January 2000 Issue No. 464 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 13 - 19 January 2000 Issue No. 464
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Columns of history
The most vital historic incidents of the past century were revived at the gallery of Beit Zeinab Khatoun. Reham El-Adawi visited
A special issue commemorating a century since Ibrahim Pasha's death
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Heritage Special Books Profile Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters
On the occasion of the new millennium, the Ministry of Culture organised an exhibition that offered an overview of Egypt's history through newspapers published during the 20th century. The "100 years in 100 newspapers" exhibition was held recently in the beautifully restored Ottoman dwelling known as Beit Zeinab Khatoun in Al-Hussein. The exhibition was organised by the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) and Ayyam Misriya (Egyptian Days) magazine.
Al-Nidaa reports on the abrogation of the 1936 Treaty
Al-Ahram offers coverage of the most important international and domestic news
Al-Misri reports on the birth of Ahmed Fouad
the 23 July 1952 issue of Al-Misri
Ahmed Kamali, Ayyam Misriya's senior editor, said the items on show are invaluable documents of both press and political history. For instance, he was able to obtain a crucial document belonging to Ali Sha'rawi, who accompanied Saad Zaghlul and Abdel-Aziz Fahmi (leaders of the 1919 Revolution) when they visited the British envoy to Egypt and requested that he present Egypt's demands for independence at the Paris Conference. Ayyam Misriya staff also found a note of recommendation given by King Fouad to the minister of interior in 1925.
Newspapers, almost by definition, are ephemeral objects. Today's news is tomorrow's shelf lining. These yellowed sheets of newsprint, however, have been preserved, and clearly show the landmarks of the past century. For instance, the front page of a 1940 issue of Al-Ahram was given over to photos of the royal family. In a special issue published by Al-Ahram in 1939, a review of international and domestic news was offered: Ali Maher Pasha had been asked to form a new cabinet after that of Mohamed Mahmoud Pasha had resigned. Newspapers joined the mobilisation effort in 1948, appealing to their readers' nationalist spirit. Al-Misri urged Egyptians to rush to the help of their Palestinian brothers, in emulation of Ibrahim Pasha, the son of Mohamed Ali, who had taken Mecca and Madina. Al-Hilal magazine also commemorated the anniversary of his death with a cartoon that showed him encouraging the Egyptian army to defend Palestine.
The years immediately preceding mid-century, indeed, were dominated by the passing of a 100 years since Mohamed Ali's death and that of Ibrahim. In 1949, Al-Asas newspaper quoted Ibrahim Pasha as explaining to the French consul in Egypt that the country's Ottoman rulers had become part and parcel of Egyptian society.
The organisers covered as many aspects of the past century as possible through the newspapers on display: to appeal to the visual aesthetic, Al-Lata'if Al-Musawwara, an illustrated review, showed visitors to the exhibition rare images of 1920s Cairo -- an entirely different city from the bustling capital of today, it would seem.
