Love in China The Moon Over the Helan Mountain, China's first full- length dance drama of the Hui ethnic minority, was presented at the Cairo Opera House Main Hall for two consecutive days. Bassam El-Zoghby was there, ready with his camera. On the ancient Silk Road, several hundred years ago, a group of Arab merchants coming from the Western Region pass through the desert, cross the Yellow River, and finally arrive in Northern China after overcoming many difficulties and receiving energetic support from the local Han Chinese. During the journey, a young Arab man name Narsu falls in love with a local girl named Hai Zhen -- a love story between two people with different religious beliefs and life customs. With deep and pure love towards each other, the two young ones finally marry at the foot of the Helan Mountain, and it is there that they begin to live and raise children. The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC), in cooperation with the Egypt-India Friendship Association (EIFA), organised a panel discussion on "India-Africa Relations" at the centre's premises in Talaat Harb Street, Downtown Cairo. The panel consisted of Zimbabwean Ambassador Aaron Maboyi Ncube, dean of the African Group of Ambassadors, EIFA President Alieddin Hilal, who moderated the session, the secretary-general of the African Society, Ambassador Ahmed Haggag, along with Ambassador of India to Egypt R Swaminathan. The panel discussion, coinciding with the celebration of Africa Day, is a part of a lecture series which commenced in April 2009 organised by the MACIC and EIFA. At the historically ravishing Al-Muizz Street located in front of Sultan Barqouq Mosque and the Textile Museum, the American University in Cairo Press, directed by Mark Linz, organised last Sunday its Annual Book, Art and Music Festival in celebration of AUC Press authors with musical performances by Al-Tanoura Troupe and an exhibition of photographs from recent AUC Press publications. Among the attendees who enjoyed the lovely evening were AUC Press Officer Nabila Aql, Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Hèseyin Avni Botsali and his wife, author Mustafa Idris, the wife of former prime minister Aziz Sedqi, Nisf Al-Donia magazine Editor-in-Chief Afkar El-Kharadly and Hany Tolba of the National Centre for Translation. The Cairo Opera House Cultural Salon took place at Sayed Darwish Theatre in Alexandria, hosted the Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary-General Zahi Hawass. Hawass spoke of Egypt's rich and precious antiquities during a delightful seminar conducted by media figure Osama Heikal. At the end of the seminar, Heikal along with director of the Cairo Opera House Abdel-Moneim Kamel bestowed upon Hawass the Opera Shield for his relentless efforts in preserving Egyptian heritage. photos: Abdel-Hamid Eid The Second Satellite Channels Festival, presided over by Arab League Information Minister Plenipotentiary Abdel-Latif Abdallah Al-Awad, hosted a lavish celebration at the Fairmont Hotel. The ceremony honoured a plethora of Arab and Egyptian stars as well as a number of satellite channels. Guests enjoyed the pleasant evening enlivened by gorgeous Lebanese actress-cum-singer Serene Abdel-Nour and Egyptian singer Ehab Tawfiq. At the beginning of the ceremony, the head of the Cinema Production Committee of Media Production City, Mamdouh El-Leithi, delivered a speech. Veteran actress Elham Shahine, veteran Syrian actor Gamal Suleiman and belly dancer-cum-actress Lucy were honoured during the ceremony. Under the auspices of Press Syndicate Chairman Makram Mohamed Ahmed, an extravagant celebration was held at the Cairo Opera House Small Hall honouring German Academic Exchange Service Secretary General Christian Bode. Press Syndicate Deputy Chairman Abdel-Mohsen Salama handed Bode the Press Syndicate Shield on behalf of Ahmed for his distinguished role in supporting cooperation between Egypt and Germany in the fields of education and science. A coterie of university professors, journalists and intellectuals were present at the ceremony, including German University in Cairo (GUC) founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ashraf Mansour, and head of the Cultural Committee at the Press Syndicate Alaa Thabet. Guests at the ceremony were lulled by the music of harpist Manal Mohieddin. The Arab Federation for Youth and Environment, in collaboration with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) and the Red Sea Bureau for Youth and Environment in Jordan, honoured the Egyptian consul in Aqaba city Bahaa Dessouqi. The honour goes for the tireless efforts he exerted in making the Fourth Coastal Environment Forum a success, where 10 countries were participating. Dessouqi was given a shield of honour by Federation head Magdy Allam, ISESCO representative Ali Rahal, as well as head of the Red Sea Bureau for Youth and Environment Rashad Al-Zoghby in the presence of Al-Ahram Weekly's Environment Editor Mahmoud Bakr. Last Friday, Diwan Bookstore celebrated the opening of its new Bibliotheca Alexandrina branch in Al-Shatby. A star studded event took place at the InterContinental City Stars with the aim of supporting the development of the Arab Bani Saleh village. Working in close collaboration with the event organisers the Rotary Club Al-Orouba, the gala dinner featured performances by Lebanese singer Fadl Shaker, and the well known Lebanese band The Library. The event was attended by celebrities and top government officials who raised money to support the 1,004 families living in the Arab Bani Saleh village. The villagers who live in abject poverty have little or no access to water or electrical supplies; all issues that were addressed through the money raised at the event. Cairo Festival City's Senior General Manager, Mohamed El-Mikawi said, "the money raised will not only help in developing the villages infrastructures, but will also help provide important medical care services and allow projects to eradicate illiteracy to be developed". photos: Ayman Barayez A prestigious ceremony was held at Al-Ahram Establishment honouring Al-Ahram Hebdo editor-in-chief and head of the Egyptian Writers' Union, author Mohamed Salmawy, for his retirement. Salmawy, who has just celebrated the signing of his new book, Ten Egyptian Papyrus, will dedicate himself to writing during his retirement. The ceremony was crowned by the presence of Al-Ahram Chairman of the Board Abdel-Moneim Said, Al-Ahram Editor-in-Chief Osama Saraya, Al-Ahram veteran columnist Salah Montasser, Al-Ahram Hebdo Executive Editor-in-Chief Hisham Murad, Al-Ahram Weekly's Editor-in- Chief Assem El-Kersh and Al-Ahram General Manager of Press and Projects Taymour Abdel-Hasib as well as the Hebdo staff.
