It gives me great pleasure, my sweets, to tell you all about an art exhibition currently being held in Rotterdam, Holland. Called "Contemporary Arab Representations" it features the photography of none other than Al-Ahram Weekly's very own Randa Shaath, who, along with Anna Boghiguian, Mohieddin El-Labbad, Alaa Khaled, Salwa Rashad, Hassan Khan, Hani Rashed, Sherif El-Azma and others, are exhibiting art revolving around the theme of Cairo.
Shaath's work at the show -- which runs until 27 July, before taking an extended tour of Spain through June 2004 -- includes striking photo essays on life on Cairo's rooftops and Nile islands.
Egyptian Ambassador to Holland Mohamed Naguib attended the show's opening, along with Shaath's husband, photographer Thomas Hartwell, artist Mohamed Abla and a bevy of world culture luminaries.
Back in Cairo, I found myself immersed in a cross-cultural activity of another sort -- a fashion show featuring Tunisian designer Sosha's latest styles. This "Journey with Costumes" -- which recently took place at the Nile Tower hotel -- revealed Sosha's take on the development of fashion over the past half century. The show's Bedouin atmosphere complimented the 50 gowns comprising Sosha's 2003-2004 winter collection. The big surprise, though, came when actress and singer Simone made an entrance -- in none other than a fabulous red wedding dress. It was an enchanting evening overall.
Another exotic event on my calendar came to my attention thanks to my dynamic friend Nihal Zamzam, the marketing communications and PR manager at Le Meridien Heliopolis. Zamzam let me know that the hotel is organising a jam- packed Moroccan festival from 13 to 19 June. Organised under the auspices of Moroccan Ambassador to Egypt Ali Oumlil and Royal Moroccan Airlines Egypt Regional Manager Abdallah Kenfawy, the fest will feature food, entertainment, and even henna painting and handicrafts. I can't wait to listen to Shabab Al-Andalous, an Andalusian troupe being brought in from Rabat for the occasion, and check out the Moroccan costumes on show.
The Cairo Opera House and EgyptAir have just signed a major cooperation agreement, I was told by my diligent colleague Reham El-Adawi. As a result, Egypt Air will soon begin providing coverage of the opera house's entire repertoire of cultural production -- including international operas, ballets, contemporary music, and dance -- on its in-flight entertainment programme on flights around the world.
Opera House Director Samir Farag and EgyptAir Board Chairman, Pilot Ahmed El-Nadi signed the agreement, which also says that EgyptAir will provide the Opera House with 50 complimentary tickets to help send Egyptian artists abroad to perform, and bring their foreign counterparts to Cairo as well. All those present lauded the pioneering step.
To celebrate British Queen ElizabethII's 77th birthday -- which, this year, happens to coincide with the departure of British Ambassador to Egypt John Sawers, a reception party is due to be held at the residence of the British Embassy in Garden City, on 15 June. Sawers is slated to become counsellor for African affairs at the British Foreign Ministry, but will also be doing a stint as an envoy to the coalition in Iraq first.
The Heliopolis Sporting Club recently hosted a Silver Jubilee event for its art exhibition salon, showcasing painting, mosaic, sculpture, ceramics, glasswork, and photography. The event also featured an exhibition in remembrance of great painter Hussein Bikar, featuring the work of renowned artists like Ahmed Nawwar, Makram Henein, Nagwa El- Ashri, Ezmeralda Haddad, Taha Hussein, Hoda Murad, Omar El-Nagdi and Samir El-Guindi. It shows till Saturday.
The Role of Public Relations in Times of Crises" -- the event's title tingled my curiosity, and I wasn't disappointed as a result. Hosted by the Arabic Public Relations Society and the Egypt Chapter of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), this interactive session was attended by prominent media and public relations figures, businessmen and IPRA members. IPRA Board Member and RADA Research Managing Director Loula Zaklama was the moderator, and IPRA Council Member and American University in Cairo public relations professor Mona Zaki provided the introduction for the distinguished panelist, Ambassador Hisham Badr. Badr spoke about the very important role public relations played during the Iraqi war, as well as the media's influence on public opinion. He also answered several questions from the floor.
This week, I also found myself enjoying a very interesting book that's just been published on a rather timely topic. Co- compiled by my dear colleague Mohamed Taymour, the general manager of Al-Ahram's Printing Department, and Mahmoud Alameddin, a journalism professor and the deputy dean of Cairo University's Faculty of Media. The 400-page book deals with the problems catalysed by current developments in IT and communications in both the modern and developing worlds. Called Basics of Information Technology (IT), Communication and Media Documentation, this is not one to be missed.
A commemorative evening was held at the Hungarian Cultural Counsellor's office recently, to remember Làszló Kàkosy (1932-2003) -- Egyptologist, archaeologist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Science and the head of the Hungarian Archaeological Mission at the Tomb of Djehutimes. A documentary about Kàkosy's life and work was screened, and an exhibition chronicling the Hungarian Archaeological Mission's work in the Tomb of Djehutimes, west Thebes, featuring photos as well as genuine fragments of pottery and jars discovered in the tomb, was admired.
Amongst those present were Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Secretary-General Zahi Hawass, Hungarian Ambassador to Egypt Làszló Kàdàr, director of the Hungarian Cultural Office in Cairo Imre Làzàr and Head of the Department of Egyptology at the Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest Erno Gaal. Gaal spoke at length of the late professor's achievements.
At the Egyptian Museum, meanwhile, the SCA recently organised a seminar about Iraqi antiquities. Attended by renowned intellectuals, archaeologists and journalists, the discussions centred on ways to restore and preserve Iraq's antiquities in light of all that has taken place. Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Secretary-General ZahiHawass, former Egyptian ambassador to Washington Abdel-Raouf El-Ridi, professor of ancient civilisations Ali Radwan and US Ambassador to Egypt David Welch were among the attendees. Assistant to the Justice Minister Iskandar Ghatass and Arab League Cultural Section Director Mamdouh Mousli were among the speakers.
During the open discussion, some of the participants blamed US and coalition forces for the looting of the Iraq National Museum. Welch defended the US forces, saying that armed soldiers were guarding the museum, and that the US government has allocated a sum of $2 million to restore and conserve the destroyed monuments in Iraq. Welch said the US was a "keeper and protector of heritage"; with evidence of that being the help it provides Egypt in its quest to repatriate some of its illegally smuggled artefacts.
Pack of Cards
Shaath's work at the show -- which runs until 27 July, before taking an extended tour of Spain through June 2004 -- includes striking photo essays on life on Cairo's rooftops and Nile islands.
Back in Cairo, I found myself immersed in a cross-cultural activity of another sort -- a fashion show featuring Tunisian designer Sosha's latest styles. This "Journey with Costumes" -- which recently took place at the Nile Tower hotel -- revealed Sosha's take on the development of fashion over the past half century. The show's Bedouin atmosphere complimented the 50 gowns comprising Sosha's 2003-2004 winter collection. The big surprise, though, came when actress and singer Simone made an entrance -- in none other than a fabulous red wedding dress. It was an enchanting evening overall.
Another exotic event on my calendar came to my attention thanks to my dynamic friend Nihal Zamzam, the marketing communications and PR manager at Le Meridien Heliopolis. Zamzam let me know that the hotel is organising a jam- packed Moroccan festival from 13 to 19 June. Organised under the auspices of Moroccan Ambassador to Egypt Ali Oumlil and Royal Moroccan Airlines Egypt Regional Manager Abdallah Kenfawy, the fest will feature food, entertainment, and even henna painting and handicrafts. I can't wait to listen to Shabab Al-Andalous, an Andalusian troupe being brought in from Rabat for the occasion, and check out the Moroccan costumes on show.
The Cairo Opera House and EgyptAir have just signed a major cooperation agreement, I was told by my diligent colleague Reham El-Adawi. As a result, Egypt Air will soon begin providing coverage of the opera house's entire repertoire of cultural production -- including international operas, ballets, contemporary music, and dance -- on its in-flight entertainment programme on flights around the world.
To celebrate British Queen Elizabeth II's 77th birthday -- which, this year, happens to coincide with the departure of British Ambassador to Egypt John Sawers, a reception party is due to be held at the residence of the British Embassy in Garden City, on 15 June. Sawers is slated to become counsellor for African affairs at the British Foreign Ministry, but will also be doing a stint as an envoy to the coalition in Iraq first.
The Heliopolis Sporting Club recently hosted a Silver Jubilee event for its art exhibition salon, showcasing painting, mosaic, sculpture, ceramics, glasswork, and photography. The event also featured an exhibition in remembrance of great painter Hussein Bikar, featuring the work of renowned artists like Ahmed Nawwar, Makram Henein, Nagwa El- Ashri, Ezmeralda Haddad, Taha Hussein, Hoda Murad, Omar El-Nagdi and Samir El-Guindi. It shows till Saturday.
The Role of Public Relations in Times of Crises" -- the event's title tingled my curiosity, and I wasn't disappointed as a result. Hosted by the Arabic Public Relations Society and the Egypt Chapter of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), this interactive session was attended by prominent media and public relations figures, businessmen and IPRA members. IPRA Board Member and RADA Research Managing Director Loula Zaklama was the moderator, and IPRA Council Member and American University in Cairo public relations professor Mona Zaki provided the introduction for the distinguished panelist, Ambassador Hisham Badr. Badr spoke about the very important role public relations played during the Iraqi war, as well as the media's influence on public opinion. He also answered several questions from the floor.
This week, I also found myself enjoying a very interesting book that's just been published on a rather timely topic. Co- compiled by my dear colleague Mohamed Taymour, the general manager of Al-Ahram's Printing Department, and Mahmoud Alameddin, a journalism professor and the deputy dean of Cairo University's Faculty of Media. The 400-page book deals with the problems catalysed by current developments in IT and communications in both the modern and developing worlds. Called Basics of Information Technology (IT), Communication and Media Documentation, this is not one to be missed.
