Help a genius The world famous conductor David N Baker of the Smithsonian Jazz Master Works Orchestra is one of a kind. Unlike his contemporaries, he does not lead his musicians from a rigid standing position at the front in traditional mode. Rather, he guides them at the start, then leaves, to go off somewhere. Perhaps to a dark corner of the music hall. When his sensitive ear picks up a deviation, he merely signals what should be done in correction and his orchestra, their eyes focussed on him wherever he strays, obeys. On Sunday, however, at the Cairo Opera House, things did not go as synchronised. As Baker walked around the hall, he kept tripping over electrical cables that were placed, for him, in unfamiliar terrain. The Opera's stage hands were apparently not told about Baker's unprecedented forays. After a few more gaffes, Baker accidentally tipped over the reading lamp that illuminates his musical notes. The orchestra was forced to stop play as Baker, wearing thick lensed eyeglasses, tried in vain to re-attach what had fallen. After telling a few jokes to the audience about how his wife always teases him about his clumsiness, then giving a loud plea of "Help", Baker was rescued by a member of the orchestra. Sherif Sonbol 's lens was there to capture these rare moments. Under extensive media presence, four orphaned couples were wed at a ceremony held this month at Plastic Artists Tower Hall, as part of the annual activities of Volunteers in Action (VIA), a student Community Service Club at the American University in Cairo (AUC). The wedding was funded by student's donations and featured pop singers Ehab Tawfiq and Hamada Helal, who enlivened the party and entertained nearly 300 guests invited by the four couples. In celebration of African-American History Month, the Information Resource Centre (IRC) of the US Embassy in Cairo organised a lecture on 18 February on the Literature of Resistance, which was an exploration of a selection of Harryette Mullen 's poetry. Mullen 's poetic oeuvre is within the mainstream of African-American poetry and her work is associated with the work of Andy Warhol. It was presented by Sally Michael, assistant professor at the English Department, Faculty of Languages and Translation, Six October University. Congratulations! Our very own Features editor Dena Rashed obtained her Masters degree in political science from the American University in Cairo (AUC). Rashed, majoring in international relations, presented her thesis entitled Women's Political Participation: In the eyes of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the Jamaat-I-Islami in Pakistan, a Comparative Study. The ceremony held to honour the Masters holders took place at Ewart Hall on AUC's main campus. Among the prominent academics attending the graduation was André Raymond, professor emeritus of Arabic studies at the University of Provence, France, who delivered the commencement address. As part of their first annual contest and exhibition for professional press photographs under the title "Egypt 2007", photojournalists at Al-Sawy Culture Wheel will honour today a number of photojournalism pioneers, including among others: Antoun Albert and late Mohamed Youssef from Al-Ahram, Farouk Ibrahim and late Hassan Diab from Al-Akhbar, Mohamed Hassan from October magazine and Rashad El-Qousi from the Middle East News Agency. Veteran actor Nour El-Sherif will be paid a tribute for his role as a photojournalist in his famous movie Darbet Shams. The contest -- which will emulate the World Press Photo international event -- will comprise five main fields: sports, news photos, tourism and environment, features and arts, with the total of financial awards put at LE50,000. photo: Mohamed Megahed For his unique devotion and untiring efforts to promote and protect Egypt's cultural and archaeological heritage, Secretary- General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Zahi Hawass received the Golden Medal of Royal Band, presented by Spanish Ambassador to Egypt Antonio López Martinez, during a gala event at the Spanish Embassy in Cairo. This award is presented by the government of the Spanish province of Ourense to honour cultural personalities around the world. The Royal Band's director described the Golden Medal as among the most important and prestigious in Spain. Martinez highlighted the strong and warm historic relations between Egypt and Spain, emphasising that the visit of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia early this month reflects the wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries in culture and archaeology. The royal couple had inaugurated with Mrs Suzanne Mubarak an exhibition at the Prince Taz Palace celebrating Ibn Khaldun. Adel Omar Sherif, deputy chief justice of the Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court and a leading specialist in constitutional justice, human rights and Islamic law, has accepted an invitation to teach an introductory course on comparative and Islamic law for the spring semester at the Southern Methodist University's Dedman Law School in Dallas, Texas next week. The course aims to introduce students with a background in common law to Islamic legal tradition, as well as familiarise them with the nature of the legal order under Islamic Sharia to the extent that allows them to understand and learn to appreciate the ongoing contemporary popular debates and frequently asked, sometimes confusing and even problematic questions about Islam and Islamic Sharia. This short sabbatical leave takes Sherif, who has published over 24 scholarly books and articles, back to academia after being a visiting fellow at the Human Rights Law Centre of the College of Law, DePaul University in Chicago, IL in 1992, the Human Rights Centre of the University of Essex from 1993- 1994, the Federal Judicial Center in Washington DC in 1996 and a visiting professor at the Faculty of Law, McGill University from 1998-99. On the occasion of celebrating the 29th Egyptian Cinema Oscar Awards at the Pyramisa Hotel and under the auspices of Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture Ali Abu Shady, veteran comedian Adel Imam and actress Mervat Amin, the stars of Morgan Ahmed Morgan, and gifted actor Ahmed El-Saqqa, the stars of Al-Gezira (The Island), were given the lion's share of awards, each winning six prizes. Aspiring comedian Ahmed Helmi, known as Egypt's Ben Stiller, was awarded a prize for his role in Keda Reda (It's Good Enough). Also honoured at the event were late scriptwriter Abdel-Hai Adeeb, actor-cum-singer Mahmoud Shokoko, in addition to actresses Karima Mukhtar and Shiwikar. Moroccan Ambassador to Egypt Mohamed Farag Al-Dokali hosted a lavish Moroccan evening featuring Moroccan singers Salma, Ashraf and Mahmoud Reda. The event also included a fashion show by Moroccan designer Hekmat. Among the invitees were Moroccan Minister Gamal Aghmani, Tunisian Ambassador Abdel-Hafiz Al-Herqam, Hoda El-Aguizi, spouse of former foreign minister Ahmed Maher and music composer Ahmed El-Gebali. photos: Ayman Barayez Celebrating Valentine's Day, Iman Eva held a fashion show in the football court of the Shooting Club, where models displayed 60 red cocktail dresses, as well as a number of wedding gowns. Amina Shelbaya and Fawzya, both having once held the title of Miss Egypt, participated in the fashion show.
