Feast for the fast Khaled El-Fiqi takes a shot of one of Ramadan's mawaed al-rahman (banquet meals for the poor). This particular event has been organised for the past 20 years running by a store in Tawfiqiya district. The banquet had room for all of 1,500 people. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid At the Sofitel Gezira Hotel, a lavish Sohour (pre-dawn meal) was held in honour of the cast of the Ramadan TV series Adham El-Sharqawi, which stars actors Mohamed Ragab, Nesreen Imam, Ahmed Maher and Hadi El-Gayar. The cast celebrated their success in a joyful Ramadan atmosphere, while Ragab danced on horseback as the cast enjoyed the traditional oriental meal. At the same hotel another spectacular Sohour took place, this time to honour the cast of another TV series Hadf Bahr (Foul Driftage), starring talented actress Somaya El-Khashab, actor Mohamed El-Shaqanqiri and actress Safaa Galal. The cast enjoyed their meal to the voice of El-Khashab, who has recently released her first album. A Sudanese Cultural Day was held at the Cairo Opera House Small Hall under the auspices of Sudanese Ambassador to Egypt Abdel-Rahman Serr Al-Khetm. The day featured the performance of a Sudanese folk dancing and singing. In addition, an exhibition was held showcasing traditional Sudanese leather products and accessories. A Sohour took place at the Ramadan tent of Akhbar Al-Yom newspaper in Ramses Hilton Hotel, enlivened by talented singer Zizi Adel and folk singer Hegazi Metqal. The Sohour was attended by newspaper Chairman of the Board Mohamed Ahdi Fadli and Nubian pop singer Mohamed Mounir, whose fans gathered around him to have their picture taken alongside him. Last Thursday, an exciting concert took place featuring talented Jordanian singer Aziz Maraka and Razz Band at Al-Genena Theatre in Al-Azhar Park. The concert took place within the framework of the Culture Resource Ramadan's annual festival, presented this year under the title Hayy. Tunisian - born singer Maraka lives in Jordan, studied music at the Jordanian Academy of Music before joining the University of Arkansas in the United States to finish his studies. In 2002, Maraka won the First Prize for Music Composition for Orchestra when Amman was named Capital of Arab Culture. Meanwhile, Razz Band mixes oriental music with jazz and rock. They released their first album, "Master Copy" in 2008. The Egyptian-Lebanese Friendship Association (ELFA), presided by Negad Shaarawi, held a prestigious Sohour at the Nile Hotel. The evening was enjoyed by a galaxy of high-profile figures and celebrities, among them Lebanese Ambassador to Egypt Khaled Ziyada, head of the People's Assembly Committee for Foreign Affairs Mustafa El-Feki, Editor-in-Chief of Nisf Al-Donia magazine Afkar El-Kharadli, Vice-President of ELFA Ghazi Nasser as well as other staff members of the Lebanese Embassy. Further, Lebanese singer Assi Al-Hellani, veteran actor Hussein Fahmi and his wife actress Leqaa Swedan, actors Mahmoud Qabil, Nabila Ebeid, Nermine El-Feki and Gihane Qamari were all present. photo: Ayman Barayez The Egyptian Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women, presided over by Iman Bibars, held a Ramadan Iftar at Aida Hall in Cairo Marriott Hotel. The Iftar was attended by a plethora of luminaries including, among many others, Secretary-General of the National Council for Women Farkhonda Hassan, former minister of development Yehia El-Gamal, veteran writer Aisha Abul-Nour and founding President of the Social Planning, Analysis and Administration Consultants Sarah Loza. Head of the Tunisian Media Agency Alfa Al-Salami organised a remarkable Sohour at the Nubian village of the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The Sohour was crowned by the presence of Tunisian Ambassador to Egypt Al-Sadeq Al-Qurabi, Editor-in- Chief of Nisf Al-Donia magazine Afkar El-Kharadli, media figure Safaa Hegazi, controversial journalist and TV presenter Wael El-Ebrashi as well as independent MP and Editor-in- Chief of Al-Osbou newspaper Mustafa Bakri. Fifteen years on from the establishment of the Tokyo Garden, a celebration took place in Helwan governorate to reopen the entirely renovated garden. The renovation cost LE4.2 million, to which Japan contributed LE3.5 million while Egypt paid the rest. Attending the celebration were Senior Director at the International Affairs Division of Tokyo governorate Masahiko Endo, Chargé d'Affairs at the Japanese Embassy in Cairo Tsukasa Uemura and Director of Information and Culture Centre Hajime Kishimori, as well as Secretary-General of Helwan governorate Tawfik Abdel-Megeid and Director-General of the Tokyo Garden Sanaa El-Bassiouni from the Egyptian side. Livening up the evening was the Al-Tanoura troupe. Cairo Opera House Director Abdel-Moneim Kamel, together with Ambassador, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Masr Al-Gadida Library board member Mohamed El-Orabi signed an agreement to exchange cultural and artistic activities allowing their respective institutions to benefit from the potential of the others. As of now, the library can make use of the Opera's employees, while the library will now in turn support the Opera's IT programmes and marketing systems. The aim as such is to raise the cultural awareness of library members and offer better services to Opera goers. Community service clubs at the American University in Cairo (AUC) have stepped up their efforts to help the needy during the holy month of Ramadan. Known for their dedication and active community service work, AUC students have used their summer vacation to collect donations, distribute thousands of food packages to poor families around Cairo and other governorates, and organise on and off campus Iftars. Volunteers in Action (VIA), which is the university's largest community service club, has distributed 5,500 food packages to 44 orphanages and schools in Cairo, Alexandria, Tanta, Helwan, Minya and other governorates. It has also organised the delivery of Iftar-to-go packages, which are delivered daily to people in need in the district of Ain Shams. In addition, it organised an Iftar in the Meet Okba district and on 11 September, it will organise one on the university's New Cairo Campus for orphans . In the meantime, the Help Club distributed 1,500 Iftar meals to the underprivileged residents of the Old Cairo district, and also set up the Rahman Delivery project, which organises the preparation and distribution of 10,000 meals throughout Ramadan. For the sixth year in a row, Alashanek ya Balady (AYB) campaign is distributing approximately 600 food packages in the Ain Al-Sira district. "Since we work more towards development than charity, we distribute the food packages to the people we work with in Ain Al-Sira as a reward and motivation for their participation in our development programmes," said AYB head Khaled Mohamed. AYB is also preparing for the Keswa project, which involves collecting and distributing clothes to the needy. The Jazz Society of Egypt is organising a jazz workshop together with Egyptian-American jazz pianist Osama Ezz who is currently visiting Egypt. The workshop will also host French bassist Andre Segone, US percussionist Miguel Marino and Egyptian percussionist Diaa Badr. Starting 12 September the workshop is limited to 20 participants and will take place at Studio 32, Mohandessin, 32 Jeddah Street (off Mohieddin Abul-Ezz Street), from eight to 10pm. Registration fees at LE50 are to be paid in advance at Studio 32. The deadline for registration is today. The first Ramadan concerts to be held at Damanhour Opera House took place last week, featuring Alexandria Opera Company for Music and Singing conducted by George Boushra. The programme included a selection of well-loved Ramadan religious songs performed by company members including Ashraf Aboud, Sameh Mounir and Islam Mursi. The Damanhour Opera House, first opened during the era of King Fouad I in 1930, was officially reopened by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak last May after its complete renovation.
