photos: Ayman Barayez The Ghanaian community in Egypt celebrated the 50th anniversary of their country's independence from Britain, and what a celebration it was! Spirits ran high at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where Ghana's charming Ambassador to Egypt Akilaja Olufemi Akiwumi gracefully received the guests. Celebrities took part in the reception and fashion gala. Among the distinguished guests was Hoda Abdel-Nasser, daughter of the former Egyptian president, who graced the occasion with her presence. Ghanaian traditional dancers took to the stage, followed by the ravishing Cameroonian star Julia Young whose resonant voice and swinging dances positively enchanted all onlookers. There was also an exquisite fashion show by Ghanaian designer Nora Bannerman, with gorgeous Ghanaian and Egyptian models parading up and down the catwalk. The star of the show, however, was none other than our very own Gamal Nkrumah, Foreign Desk editor of Al-Ahram Weekly who looked resplendent, with his flowing traditional West African attire. Viva Ghana. The celebrations of Ghana's golden jubilee meanwhile are continuing at another venue, the Al-Sawy Culture Wheel. A special exhibit opened this week at this veritable hub of art and creativity, in the River Hall. The exhibit devoted to Ghana will continue until 19 March. Egyptian film star Hussein Fahmi has been chosen as the first Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) ambassador. Hussein, the first UNDP goodwill ambassador for the Arab states, and Egyptian cinema's heartthrob for more than three decades, has also headed the Cairo International Film Festival. In the summer of last year he resigned his post as UN goodwill ambassador in protest over the Israeli war on Lebanon. Because of this illustrious record Fahmi was chosen for this position. Ayman Abdel-Wahab, MENA managing director for the Special Olympics said, "Special Olympics is a great humanitarian movement that works for the welfare of the mentally challenged. It includes 1.5 million athletes around the world and our region has 120,000 athletes who should be well presented." Fahmi 's concern for the intellectually disabled was reflected in his TV show last Ramadan, entitled Al-Nas wa Ana (The People and I). He interviewed Mazen El-Samahi, an SO athletes who is also Fahmi 's neighbour. Fahmi will subsequently represent the MENA region's intellectually disabled in the World Summer Games in October in Shanghai, China. Some 7,000 athletes will compete in 26 sports at this venue. "I had always wanted to help the mentally disabled because I love them, but did not know how. Now the right time has come, and I am enthusiastic about it," Fahmi asserted. He said that he had been keeping an eye on SO activities all over the world. Fahmi 's first step after he was selected as Special Olympics ambassador was to send out invitations to the MENA region's Arab actors and actresses. Abdel-Wahab says that, "this opens the way to other actors, businessmen and celebrities to join in programmes throughout the MENA region. It also helps attract more athletes to work on improving the lives of the intellectually disabled". photo: Sara Abou Bakr On Friday, Al-Sawy Culture Wheel witnessed the birth of a new and aspiring band called 7ekaya (Story). Salonaz Sami listened in. In their first appearance on stage, the band comprised of nine members performed several scores from their original music, as well as a few cover-up tracks. Al-Sawy's River Hall was packed with fans of the budding stars. The performances included instrumental music, in addition to other genres that were fused with Arabic lyrics, most representative of the spirit and concerns of young people, whom 7ekaya so aptly represent. The band started only one year ago, when its talented keyboard players, 19-year-old Karim Wassim and 20- year old Ahmed Fahmi decided to merge their musical talents to form a band. The name 7ekaya reflects the fact that "each song has its own story", in the words of 21-year- old Amr Samir, the band's brilliant acoustic guitar player. The concert at Al-Sawy lasted for more than two hours, exceeding its scheduled time because of the encores requested by the positively-crazed fans. An absolute hit was Balkona Khashab (A wooden Terrace), in addition to a number of solos including, notably, a cover up of Yanni's famous track, Lord of the Dance. The band's up and coming stars include Ahmed Nabil on the guitar, Ahmed El-Husseini and Mohamed Gamal as vocals, Mohamed Amr on drums, Mustafa Galal on base guitar, and Amr El-Zanati for percussion. Marking the Egyptian Women's Day, Khaira Al-Fassi, wife of Moroccan Ambassador to Cairo Mohamed Farag El-Dokali organised a warm charity lunch at her residence. The revenues were donated to the Women's Health Improvement Association (WHIA) which is presided over by Sawsan Atia. The event was crowned by the presence of the ever-charming Gihan El-Sadat, wife of the former president Anwar El-Sadat. Editor-In-Chief of Nisf Al-Donia magazine Afkar El-Kharadli attended, as well as novelist and deputy editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Mona Ragab. There were as well, the gorgeous actresses Youssra, Layla Elwi and Mervat Amin. Moroccan singers Ganat and Layla Ghufran enlivened the event with their enchanting songs. photo: Sherif Mahmoud Safar Khan art Gallery in Zamalek hosted an exhibition by the talented Nazli Madkour. Inaugurated by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, it was attended by US Ambassador to Egypt Francis Ricciardone and his wife Marie, as well as former minister of youth Mamdouh El-Beltagui. Present as well was the family of late novelist and Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. The connection resides, not only in the fact that the Mahfouz family members positively admire Madkour 's art, but, as well, the fact that her husband, head of the Writers' Union and chief-editor Al-Ahram Hebdo is the distinguished Mohamed Salmawi. The latter's close personal and professional ties with the great novelist are known to all. The audience savoured Madkour 's 32nd exhibition which showcased 35 mixed media paintings depicting different aspects of the Egyptian landscape. The exhibit also carried a number of women's portraits, displayed by Madkour for the first time. It runs through 29 March. "Run For Cure", is the name of the annual event organised by the Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt (BCFE) that will take place at the Gezira Sporting Club, on Friday 16 March, starting 10 am. The aim of the marathon is to spread breast cancer awareness. During the event, BCFE will distribute subsidised coupons for mammograms, in an attempt to encourage women to undergo this important examination. The coupons can be obtained throughout the month of March, from the headquarters of BCFE. Don't miss the chance and call +202 368 2432/1, or flock to www.bcfe.org. The University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), and the British Council in Cairo organised a ceremony honouring the achievements of students who excelled in the June 2006 Cambridge IGCSE in Cairo and Alexandria schools. Enjy El-Naggar attended the celebration held at the residence of the British Amassador Sir Derek Plumbly. Another similar celebration was also held at the Hilton Green Plaza Hotel in Alexandria. The award was bestowed to a number of students, amongst whom Omar Alaaeddin Hassib shone for his top grades garnered in economics on the level of all IGCSE students internationally. Attending was the Director of the British Council Paul Smith, Regional Director of the CIE Christine Dow, head of the board of trustees for MSA Nawal El-Degwi, owner of Saint Fatima school Nader Younan and owner of the Modern English School Ghada Dagani.
