photo: Ayman Barayez Al-Ahram Editor-in-Chief Osama Saraya held an Iftar banquet at the Cairo Capital Club. Among the attendees were Minister of Information Anas El-Fiqi, chairman of the board of Al-Ahram Salah El-Ghamri, and head of the State Information Service Ayman El-Qafas. Attending as well was Al-Ahram Weekly 's Editor- in-Chief Assem El-Kersh, and a galaxy of Egyptian newspapers editors. photos: Ghada Abd El-Kader On occasion of the 61st anniversary of the foundation of the Korean Workers Party, Ghada Abd El-Kader attended the celebration of this event. This was organised by the Egyptian Centre for International Cultural Cooperation and the Embassy of Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Cairo. A Korean photographic exhibition was held followed by the screening of a Korean documentary film at the centre's premises. Among the attendees were First Undersecretary of State for Foreign Cultural Relations Anwar Ibrahim, Ambassador of Democratic People's Republic of Korea to Egypt Jong Myong Son, Counsellor of Democratic People's Republic of Korean Embassy Pak Song Do and Chinese Ambassador Wu Sike. Secretary- General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Hawass has been donated an Emmy Award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This, of course, is the highest award donated to television productions in the United States, and an extremely prestigious international decoration. The award was given to Hawass and film director David Jackson for the television film Adventures in Egypt, produced by KCBS in 2005. It recounts the life of the mysterious boy king Tutankhamun through an exploration of his tomb and funerary collection, now on display at the Egyptian Museum. The film also explores other royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, such as the tomb of Seti I, father of Pharaoh Ramses II. Until Hawass was recognised with an Emmy, it was unprecedented for an Egyptian to receive such an award, which is the television equivalent of an Oscar. Jackson who arrived in Cairo yesterday, handed Hawass the award: a golden statue featuring a winged standing woman, holding a sphere in her hands. The Shebin Al-Kom for Folkloric Musical Instruments troupe held a performance this week at the Zakariya El-Hijawi Theatre as part of the Layaly Al-Mahrousa (Cairo Nights) cultural programme in Al-Sayeda Zeinab district. The troupe presented Sufi chants, folkloric dances, madih (chants in praise of the prophet) and the mawwal (ballad). The theatre was totally full. The Naguib Mahfouz Café for its part hosted novelist Abdel-Aal El-Hamamsi who talked with budding writers about the principles and techniques of good writing. He spoke of his own experience, and the obstacles he faced. Amira El-Naqeeb spent an enchanting evening in the vicinity of the Goethe Institute in Doqqi. Goethe was hosting international artist Fathi Salama, who dazzled the crowd with his breathtaking piano performance. The institute was in full swing, as the crowds filled the ground of the institute's garden. Those present enjoyed sitting on the comfortable cushions, on a full moon night, listening to the splendid tunes of Salama and the heavenly voice of the Algerian singer Karima Nayat. Salama also hosted the Norwegian saxophonist Traygaf Siam. Salama and his Sharqiat band will feature in another concert at Beit Al-Harrawi on 17 October, at 9.30pm. "He draws you with scissors, in five seconds," this statement which you can read on a carton banner is not an exaggeration. With the Alexandrian profile artist Anwar Mohamed dexterously working, you can have a beautiful profile picture, made of black carton in seconds, reports Reham El-Adawi. At the entrance of Al-Hussein district, Mohamed is ready to portray Egyptians as well as tourists, much in the vein of the street artists of Paris and Rome. Mohamed, however, offers you a profile portrait at bargain prices. One can see also glean on the banner other portraits of celebrities such as Um Kulthoum, with whom Mohamed was captured in a photo in 1962 during the opening of an art exhibition in Libya. The artist who is in his mid-50s, shows other groups of work depicting scenes from Ramadan such as lanterns and the vendor who makes konafa (the dessert famously associated with Ramadan). The Cervantes Institute held a musical concert by the Yasser Moawad band. The director and percussionist of the troupe, Moawad, has been for years been experimenting with and creating acoustic mixtures in which old music is combined with contemporary musical trends. Among the several dignitaries attending were Cervantes Institute Director Luis Sierra. On Saturday, the French Cultural Centre in Mounira celebrated Ramadan nights with a big oriental tent in its backyard. The first recital was by Sufi chanters, the legendary Sheikh Mohamed Seyam and, for the first time, Sheikha Rachida. The audiences were touched by the reverence in their voices, while they performed their most sought-after Sufi and religious songs. The surprise event of the evening was the appearance of two young performers, Kawthar and Samah who impressed the listeners with their singing talent. Last Friday, El-Sawy Culture Centre hosted a performance for Al-Tahteeb Al-Masry band (Egyptian Stick-Dancing troupe). Stick dance is one of the ancient folkloric dances in Upper Egypt. The band featured different soloists and double stick-dancing fighting battles. Al-Tannura was accompanied by drums, organ, tambourines and flute. The trainer of the band Mohamadi Fathi said it had participated in Tahteeb Festival in Hurghada 2006. He added that all thanks go to Mohamed El-Sawy who was behind founding the band which aims to revive this folkloric dance, and preserve it from extinction.
