		Al-Ahram Weekly Online 2 - 8 May 2002 Issue No.584
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Current issue \| Previous issue \| Site map

Pack of Cards

By Madame Sosostris

In solidarity with the Palestinians subjected to Israeli atrocities, the Cairo Opera House will host a concert today, whose proceeds will be donated to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society headed by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak. The society aims to assist the Palestinians in cash and provide them with medical aid. The event will be attended by Mrs Mubarak, as well as a group of luminary Egyptian and Arab figures. It will feature a group of novel nationalist songs written specifically in support of the Palestinians. Egyptian and Arab vocalists participating, include: Iman El-Bahr Darwish, Angham, Mohamed Tharwat, Ali El-Haggar, Hani Shaker, budding talent Amal Maher, Tunisian singer Latifa, Moroccan singer Zekra and Assallah from Syria. Most of the songs are composed by Ammar El-Shera'i, Gamal Salama and Amir Abdel- Meguid. Singers will be accompanied by the Cairo Opera Orchestra, the National Arabic Music Ensemble and the opera's children's choir -- to be conducted in rotation by Selim Sahab, Salah Ghoubashi, Gamal Salama and Khaled Fouad.

Consummate pianist Omar Khayrat will play his new composition Al-Quds (Jerusalem); colloquial poet Abdel- Rahman El-Abnoudi will recite several verses of his famous poems on Palestine; and Al-Quds Haterga' Lena (We Shall Regain Jerusalem), written by Medhat El-Adl and composed by Riyad El-Hamshari -- which encompasses the collective efforts of around 100 artists -- will conclude the evening. For those unable to make the event, the evening will be live on 12 Arab satellite channels.

This week, my dear colleague Reham El-Adawi and I attended the inauguration of the exhibition "Islam in Sicily: A Garden between Two Civilisations," at the Akhenaton Art Centre in Zamalek. In attendance was the Italian Ambassador to Egypt Mario Sica, First Undersecretary for Foreign Cultural Relations at the Ministry of Culture Cherif El- Choubachi, the Undersecretary of State for the Fine Arts Sector Ahmed Nawwar, director of the Akhenaton Art Centre Ahmed Fouad Selim, and director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo, Tina Cervone. The event included the inauguration of an art exhibition showcasing works inspired by the Islamic roots of Sicily -- such as oil paintings, ceramic herb containers, terra- cotta works and glazed ceramic dishes created by Italian and Egyptian artists Antonio Corpora, Enzo Fiammetta, Emilio Angelini and Sahar El- Amir, among others. Documentary films on the history of Arabs in Sicily, and the restoration process of the exquisite Sicilian Islamic sites and buildings were screened, as were photos depicting the picturesque Sicilian landscape -- a viewing accompanied by the serene voice of the great Syrian poet Adonis.

The exhibition, which runs through 20 May, pays tribute to the social, cultural and artistic links between Sicily and its Arab experience. Standing as a bridge between East and West, North and South, Sicily represents a unique point of contact between various civilisations which has been able, through the centuries, to generate profound advances in the arts and in all fields of human endeavour. Event attendees included director of the Cairo Opera Ballet Company Abdel-Moneim Kamel, his gorgeous wife Armenia, and veteran painter Gazbia Sirry. At a press conference following the inauguration, El-Choubachi said the exhibition was an expression of the mutual understanding between Europe and the Arab world and rejected the idea of culture clashes promoted recently in Europe. The exhibition has been made possible by the joint efforts of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo, the Department for Cultural Affairs of the region of Sicily and the "Orestiadi" Foundation of Gibellina currently chaired by Senator Ludovico Corrao.

Once again, Valerie de Casas, director of the musical series "Musical Bouquet," showcased a spectacular concert last week at AUC's Oriental Hall. This time, the performance spotlighted her young music students. The concert featured the poised and talented 11-year-old Stephanie Kaiser, the angelic -- if a devil at the keys -- 7-year- old Karine Morcos, and the adorable five-year -old Yehia Awad. With such a young group of performers, I expected to hear the simplest of tunes. Instead, the audience was treated to faultless classical music of the highest calibre. Not, I suppose, all that surprising given that these youngsters have been studying for years now with the exceptionally talented and experienced de Casas. After the concert, I mingled with proud parents at the reception held in honour of the evening's achievement, and exchanged a few words with the young talents themselves. Truly, my friends, an exceptional and inspiring evening.



My dear, and diligent friend, director of the Cairo Opera House Samir Farag, graciously inaugurated the exhibition of gifted artist Abdel-Aziz El- Gendi -- a professor of graphics at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University. The exhibit -- El-Gendi's 16th -- lasts until 7 May. Most of the paintings on exhibit, depict the traditional, popular, Egyptian buildings. As my colleague Nesmahar Sayed whispered to me, the exhibition implied a crucial message El-Gendi delivered to the guests reminding them of the role Arabs should play in supporting the Palestinian people. The artist said this was to be done by any means, "at least boycotting some products which their countries are known to help Israel." A noble thought and cause for his Arab brothers.

It was a most interesting discussion that took place recently at the International Congress of Greek, Coptic and Arabian Papyrus. Organised under the auspices of the Dutch Archaeological Institute in Cairo, Princeton University, and Dar Al-Kutub, talks pivoted around the modern technology used to study and translate papyrus from all epochs. It also highlighted the importance of reaching accurate translations that could help unveil crucial aspects about the life and traditions of the ancient Egyptians. A research paper submitted by the senior inspector of Islamic and Coptic monuments at the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Mohamed Abdel-Latif was the highlight of the event -- receiving honourable mention and the congress prize. His study is the first to translate texts of papyrus from the first three Higra centuries. Truly remarkable.

The Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs in Egypt recently held a dinner at the Nile Hilton. General Manager Jean-Pierre Mainardi and Mrs Edith Mainardi welcomed about two hundred Chaine members and their VIP guests to the hotel. Attendees included the French ambassador to Cairo, Francois Dopffer. The evening commenced with an elegant cocktail reception made whimsical with a performance of classical music by the String Trio.

Bailli d' Honneur of the Chaine des Rotisseurs Maher Henein -- who welcomed Mr and Mrs Mainardi to the Baillage of the Chaine des Rotisseurs in Egypt -- delivered the opening address, followed by Mr Mainardi's detailed description of the exclusive five course meal prepared by executive chef Rolf Jaeggi and his team. My dears, the sound of it alone was mouthwatering, and it proved, of course, to be the indulgence of a lifetime.

Palestine crucified

In recent weeks, the world has witnessed an unprecedented display of Arab unity in testimony to the people of Palestine. One of our dearest Weekly readers shared her innermost thoughts:

You said: "Father please forgive them, they do not know what they do."
You asked it oh so sincerely despite all they'd done to you.
Will the "Via Dolorosa" as the road you trod was called.
Still be named "the way of suffering" when its history is retold?
First in Sabra and Shatilla, it was clear for all to see.
That the crimes Sharon committed were just pure brutality.
As he went into Al-Aqsa was it not to start a fight?
Did he think the Palestinians would not stand up for their rights?
As the spark he lit caught fire which exactly was his arm,
The Intifada restarted. Nothing since has been the same.
Kids threw stones at their aggressors, an expression of their plight, But the soldiers shot straight at them.
How can this be called a fight?
Long after all this is over, long after all guns are stilled,
These same soldiers will have nightmares of the children they have killed.
It is sad that to each bullet, is added a dose of "hate".
These not only kill or injure but they soon reverberate,
Causing counteractions whereby much more of this hate is spread.
Bombs explode killing more people...
So much innocent blood is shed.
Where is "PEACE"? Has someone seen it?
Is it hiding? Has it fled?
It was killed by Mr Sharon. It lies there among the dead.
In Jenin the tanks ran over all the camps destroying homes,
Rolling over living bodies, crushing people's flesh and bones.
All the injured were prevented from receiving decent care.
And the stink of death was ghastly, filling all the dusty air.
The sounds of loud screams were muffled by the droning of the tanks.
Tears and blood got cached together, and stuck to the salty sands.
Next they went to shoot at churches, first at the Nativity.
How can all this be forgiven, even by Christianity?
After having seen those actions, would you now repeat your plea?
Would YOU ask HIM to forgive them as you did in Calvary?

Reine Naggar
Cairo

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