In search of innocence A COLLECTION of spectacular photographs taken in Africa by internationally acclaimed Spanish photographer Jaime Mota, where extreme obstacles to education deeply affected the photographer and awoke in him a sincere wish to do something for those denied, was opened yesterday at the American University in Cairo's Photographic Gallery. Through his photographs, Mota aims at capturing his characters in their purest state, to get inside their souls and reveal what is within all of us. The result is a series of emotional photographs reflecting the expressiveness and innocence of children, and carrying the viewer via school scenes into a different cultural universe. Mota has gained national and international awards, including two awards given by the Spanish daily El Pais for "Best Spanish Photographer" in 1995 and 1997. In 2003, on a joint venture with a friend, he began a humanitarian project with an orphanage/college in North Tanzania. This project is supported and co-financed by the Lyons Club International Foundation and by 200 Spanish families, local businesses and public institutions. ( see Listings p.6) At the opulent Gold Room of Cairo's Al-Manial Palace, the American University in Cairo Press celebrated the new 400- page limited edition of A Secret Voyage, by Zahi Hawass, which is beautifully illustrated by stunning, extremely high- resolution images by Italian photographer Sandro Vannini. The book signing was crowned by the presence of internationally acclaimed Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, a personal friend of Hawass, Indian Ambassador to Egypt R Swaminathan, former foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, AUC Press Promotion Manager Nabila Aql, writer Adel Hammouda as well as a bevy of prominent personalities. Hawass 's book signing was followed by a short musical performance by pianist Ashraf Fahmi. A Secret Voyage, a magnificent, hand-bound, silk-cover edition of only 750 signed copies, is a captivating journey through the world of the Theban Necropolis, narrated by Hawass, secretary-general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, in which the world-renowned archaeologist chronicles anecdotes and personal stories from his years in Egyptology. Over the course of his career, Hawass has made many remarkable discoveries, such as the tombs of the Pyramids builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies. Hawass and Vannini collaborated last year on another important book, Life in Paradise: The Noble Tombs of Thebes, one of the highlights of the AUC Press fall 2009 publications. The Association of Egyptian-American Scholars, presided over by Nafisa Zakaria, granted gorgeous and talented actress Yusra a certificate of excellence for her outstanding performances in 2009. Zakaria flew all the way from the US to hand Yusra the certificate at her own residence. City Stars Cinema witnessed the premiere of the latest blockbuster Aatei Shahn (Dead Battery), starring a group of emerging artists including singer-cum-actor Shady Shamel, handsome actor Omar Hassan Youssef and singer-cum- actress Shaza, directed by Sayed Eissawi. An array of celebrities attended the premiere, on top of them veteran actor Hassan Youssef who came to congratulate his son Omar, comedian Ahmed Eid, singer-cum-actress Simon and actor Mohamed Metwali. In a fascinating evening held at Alf bookstore in Heliopolis, Al-Ahram Nisf Al-Donia magazine writer Hanan Mufid Fawzi celebrated the book signing of her new work Helmi Helmak we Eilmi Eilmak (Dreaming Me, Dreaming You). The book published by the Egyptian-Lebanese publishing house includes three sections: the first discusses the phenomenon of dreams in general, the second section comprises interviews with well-known figures in various fields such as art, literature and politics, while the third section discusses the significance of the most famous symbols in dreams. The book signing was attended by a coterie of intellectuals and celebrities, on top of which were shrewd journalist and TV presenter Mufid Fawzi, there to congratulate his daughter, gorgeous actress Laila Elwi, actors Hani Salama and Amir Shahine, director Khaled Youssef, actresses Nahla Salama and Amira Fathi, journalist and TV presenter Wael El-Ebrashi and ART TV presenter Poussy Shalabi. On the occasion of Mother's Day, a spectacular celebration under the slogan "The Day of Giving" took place at the Nile Hall in the Catholic Centre. The celebration honoured an array of celebrities and high- profile figures, such as Minister of Labour Aisha Abdel-Hadi, Editor-in-Chief of Akhbar Al-Nogoum magazine Amal Othman, President of Egyptian Television Nadia Halim, veteran actresses Karima Moukhtar, Nadia Rafiq, Madiha Youssri and Zahret El-Ola, Secretary-General of the National Council for Women (NCW) Farkhonda Hassan, MP and lawyer Georgette Qellini, head of radio Intesar Shalabi, actress Sherine and late veteran actors Sanaa Gamil and Souad Nasr. Father Boutros Daniel along with veteran comedian Mohamed Sobhi distributed honorary shields. At the end of the delightful evening, and in a kind gesture, Hassan granted Daniel the NCW shield. In honour of the Italian Senator, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Lamberto Dini, Italian Ambassador to Egypt Claudio Pacifico hosted a lavish reception party at the headquarters of the Italian Embassy in Garden City. The reception was crowned by the presence of the Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, former Italian ambassador to Egypt Antonio Badini and Chief of the Cabinet of the Arab League Secretary-General Hisham Youssef. Champillion Rotary Club (CRC) hosted a charitable evening for the benefit of the Egyptian Society for Diabetes Care (ESDC). Prince Abbas Helmi was the keynote speaker, talking about his grandfather Khedive Abbas Helmi II and members of the royal family. CRC members including Samir El-Samman, Hoda Wasfi, Sherifa Mehrez, Halla El-Shourbagi, Zeinab Hassouna, Zeinab Said, Soheir Talaat Mustafa, Mona Serag and Jilan Gabr were all present. In celebration of the Francophone Festival, the French Book Fair concluded its activities Saturday at the Al-Sawy Cultural Wheel garden in Zamalek. It was inaugurated by the Wheel's founder, Mohamed El-Sawy, in the presence of Canadian Ambassador Ferry De Kerckhove, Swiss Deputy Minister Denis Knobel and the French Counsellor Arnault De Sury. Francophone publishing houses and libraries participated in the fair. At Al-Sawy Cultural Wheel's Word Hall II, a poster exhibition entitled "From Peaceful Revolution to German Unity" was held on the occasion of celebrating the 20th anniversary of Germany's unification. It was inaugurated by German Ambassador to Egypt Michael Bock in the presence of Ambassador Mohamed El-Orabi, assistant foreign minister for economic affairs, former foreign minister Ahmed Maher, former Egyptian ambassador to Germany Raouf Ghoneim, head of the Egyptian-German Friendship Association Reda Sheta, along with deputy editor-in-chief of Al-Gomhuriya newspaper Lotfi Nasif. In the framework of a youth exchange protocol between the National Council for Youth, presided over by Safieddin Kharboush, and Germany, a German journalist delegation is visiting Egypt in the period 21-26 March. It is planned that the delegation meets with Kharboush to get acquainted with the council's role in empowering youth socially, economically and politically. The German journalists will have cultural, political and religious meetings with public figures, including the Grand Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa, Pope Moussa, chairman of the General Federation of NGOs Abdel-Aziz Hegazi, secretary-general of the National Democratic Party's Information Committee Alieddin Hilal, head of the People's Assembly Foreign Relations Committee Mustafa El-Feki, Al-Ahram newspaper Editor-in-Chief Osama Saraya and chairman of the board of Rose El-Youssef newspaper Karam Gabr. An extravagant inauguration ceremony was held for the exhibition "Beyond Imagination" by painter Pal Sarkozy, father of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, at the Giza Four Seasons Hotel's First Mall. The exhibition was inaugurated by Under-Secretary of Cultural Relations at the Ministry of Culture Hossam Nassar while the exhibition revenues were allocated for the Egyptian Red Crescent Society presided over by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak. Among the attendees were Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, Al-Ahram back-page editor Mona Ragab, artist Farid Fadel and his wife, PR expert Mona Zaki.
