Community Times JUL/AUG Issue 2017 by Community Times

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Contents July/August 2017 TOWN TALK 04

Talk of the Town News

style 10

Massimo Duttiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer Colection Summer Beach Essentials Lifestyle Blogger Hana El Awadi

Community

Culture 16

ART Unconventional Egyptian Artists Painter Ibrahim Shalabi Combines Art with Values

Books Review: The Silkworm Diwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer Recommendations

entrepreneur Khan Fokhar: Egyptian Pottery Brand

education Author Educates Children through Music, Literature and Poetry

real people Upper Egyptian Video Maker John Milad Workshops to Advocate Change

Destinations 44

travel Visiting Cosmopolitan Montreal

Mind, body & Soul 26

The Power of Words

FEATURES 28

Female Uber Drivers in Cairo

Carelle Homsy on Painting the Pope

CUISINE 32

Light and Refreshing Summer Recipes

Torii Restaurant Review

CALENDAR 56

July/August Culture Events

SOCIETY 60 Cover Designed by Marina Raafat

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Social Events and Gatherings

Business 70

Fouka Bay Project in the North Coast

Publisher Live Colors, Nicosia Managing Partner Najla Riad Associate Partners Ahmed Samy Mohamed Maher

EditoriAl dEPArtMEnt Editor-in-chief Moguib Roshdy Acting Editor Najla Riad Assistant Editor Rawan Abdel Latif

WritErs Rehab Saad, Hania Moheeb, Basma Mostafa, Rana Kamaly, Selma Köhn, Ahmed Kafafi, Zeinab Abul Gheit and Ola El Soueni

Art dEPArtMEnt Art director Khadiga El Badan

senior Graphic designer

Editor’s Note

Marina Raafat

sAlEs dEPArtMEnt sales director Rania Halim

Dear Reader,

Production MAnAGEr

With the arrival of summer, we have merged July and August together to create a light issue that aims to keep our readers entertained throughout these warm months and relaxing holidays. With a beach mindset, we have included an article on beach essentials in our style section as well as an interview with lifestyle blogger Hana El Awadi, in addition to providing light and refreshing recipes that are easy to make, whether in the city or at your summer home.

Enas Adly

AdMinistrAtion dEPArtMEnt distribution Manager Rana Ezzat office Manager Magda Adib legal consultant Ashraf Soliman Financial consultants

As features, we talked with female Uber drivers who have been roaming the chaotic city of Cairo to make a living, as well as Carelle Homsy, the painter who created a portrait of the Pope and gifted it to him on his last visit to Egypt. Many inspirational figures have made it into this issue, including controversial artists who take on visual arts, Nazih Girgis who educates children through literature and music and John Milad, the graphic designer who advocates change and women’s rights through his workshops.

Hazem Abdel Tawab Ahmed Abbas

office clerk Mohamed Adel office custodian Ismail Othman distribution Al Ahram, Al Akhbar, Next Media Mohandessin, Zamalek, Heliopolis, Maadi, Nasr City, New Cairo, 6 October City, Sheikh Zayed City

Wishing everyone a lovely holiday on behalf of Community Times. The Editor editor@live-colors.com Address: 48 Abdel Moneim Hafez Street, Midan El Sabaa’ Emarat, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt Tel/Fax: (+202) 2290 8127 - 2415 8762 Mobile: 0100 005 2322 - 0100 005 2323 E-mail: editor@live-colors.com Website: www.communitytimes.me © Copyright 2004 Community Times is a monthly publication published by LC Live Colors Nicosia, Cyprus

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JUl/AUg 2017 | Ct

TownTalk

Quran from the Ottoman Era Seized at Cairo Airport The Customs Authority at Cairo International Airport has foiled a smuggling attempt of an Ottoman Quran collection in three parcels arriving from Ethiopia.

Airport, explains that the parcels are written in large Copy Line (Naskh handwriting) on old paper and covered with a leather pouch.

Ahmed El Rawi, Head of the Antiquities Units in Egyptian Ports, explains that the parcels were seized in the Cargo Village at Cairo International Airport and when the archaeological committee from the Antiquities Unit at the airport inspected the batch, they approved their authenticity.

He pointed out that some of the seized Quran sections were not organized according to the normal index but are almost a grouping of the Quran’s verses. He asserted that the Quran is in very bad conservation condition and is in dire need of restoration. p

Hamdi Hamam, Director General of the Antiquities Unit at Cairo International

Al-Futtaim Opens Homeworks in Cairo Festival City Homeworks offers an “open house” concept, where customers will find everything they look for under one roof. This newest home improvement and lifestyle brand provides a vast selection of products in four main areas: DIY and Hardware, Outdoor Living, Home Improvement and Home Living. Homeworks bring customers a wide range of inspirational, stylish and contemporary products from power and hand tools, home-ware, garden necessities to outdoor furniture, barbeques and accessories that are both practical and affordable. Product experts and store associates are trained to assist customers during their store visits to ensure a rewarding shopping experience, while families with children will appreciate the dedicated kids’ area, where they can leave their children to play as they shop. p

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Geyushi Motors Signs a Cooperation Agreement with FAW Group to Become an Exclusive FAW Agent in Egypt and Launch Six New Models that Meet Egyptian Market Needs FAW Group is one of the largest international groups owned by China whose annual production exceeds three million vehicles. Under this cooperation, Geyushi Motors will be FAW’s exclusive agent in Egypt and will assemble and export FAW vehicles to Africa and the Middle East. Attending the ceremony agreement were Mohi El-Din Geyushi, Chairman of Geyushi Motors, Mr. Wang Zhijian, General Manager of China FAW Group Import & Export Co. Ltd., Mr. Ni Chengbo, Executive Deputy General Manager of FAW Africa Investment Corp. Ltd and MP Mahmoud Al-Sherif. This partnership is set to be a landmark for Geyushi Motors as it comprises establishing a FAW carassembling factory. Consequently, Geyushi Motors will transform from being a car agent and distributor into entering the car assembling and dealership industry. Marking this occasion, six new FAW models were launched addressing most Egyptian clients. The models are three private cars: B50, B30 and X40, and three heavy-duty trucks: CA4181P2K2EA80, CA4258P2K2T1EA80 and CA3256P2K2T1EA80. Moreover, Geyushi Motors has allocated two top-notch centers for FAW’s after-sale and spare parts services in Cairo’s Katameya neighborhood. Mr. Wang Zhijian said: “We have managed to build trust to develop the Egyptian market and support our presence in Egypt. Under this agreement, FAW will start a new phase in Egypt, where the focus will be on offering modern eco-friendly cars that meet the highest safety standards. Furthermore, we will work on meeting the needs of the Egyptian market and clients, besides contributing to boost the domestic economy, especially the automotive sector.” p

Naseej Fabrics Participates in The Home Design Show at Dusit Naseej Fabrics, home of high-quality and trendy home textiles, took part in The Home Design Show that was held at Dusit Thani LakeView from May 10 to 12. During the three-day event, Naseej displayed the latest in contemporary fabric designs in its booth, where fabric consultants were available with their design advice. p

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TownTalk

Celebrate the Fruits of Summer at The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo The Ultimate Watermelon Fiesta The Nile Ritz-Carlton’s Watermelon Festival celebrates with a juicy, thirst quenching and refreshing fruit that absolutely screams summer.

Lars Pursche Appointed New General Manager of Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay recently announced the appointment of Mr. Lars Pursche as the new General Manager of the exclusive luxury hotel. Lars joins with a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry.

From delicious watermelon shakes to watermelon and feta cheese salads, frozen nougat to house-made watermeloncucumber sorbet, a watermelon slice on the pool and a ruminfused watermelon bite, the themed menu is guaranteed to leave you wanting more.

Enjoying the Love of Citrus

A German national and a hospitality veteran holding an MBA degree in Hospitality & Tourism, Lars comes to the Red Sea with a long career and broad spectrum of experience in three continents and four different countries.

The idea of the yellow, orange and green tones of citrus, its energizing scents and the fruitful displays all set the mood for a lively summer celebration. The Nile Ritz-Carlton celebrates the Fête du Citron at Vivo; their two Michelin-starred managed Italian restaurant.

Before joining Kempinski, he filled various managerial positions in the sales field in renowned international hotel chains, like Le Méridien, Swissôtel, Hyatt, Steigenberger and Marriott.

Enliven your senses as you experience Chef Carmine’s culinary artistry at its finest as he presents an assortment of exquisite citrus masterpieces composed of modern creations and delectable Italian dishes featuring fresh citrus ingredients, seasonal and carefully selected lemons, limes, grapefruits and oranges.

His most recent post was General Manager at Kempinski Hotel Huizhou in Southern China, Guangdong Province, and prior to that he had six years of experience with Kempinski as Director. p

The hotel’s restaurants and bars are also taking the time to celebrate summer’s favorite fruit where the culinary team highlights everything we love about watermelons with unique sweet and savory dishes and themed recipes.

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Treat your palate as you indulge in a healthy tasting menu balancing nutrition and flavors. Do not miss the chef’s weekly specials throughout the month of July. p

Architect Dalia Sadany Wins Global Design Award for Trend Micro Office in Egypt Dalia Sadany, the creative mind behind Trend Micro’s flagship office in Egypt, has won the prestigious A’ Design Award and Competition in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. As the world’s largest design competition, A’ Design honors the best designs, concepts, products and services around the globe. Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions headquartered in Japan, is located in the Greek Campus of the American University of Cairo, in an area that houses some of the most prestigious buildings in downtown Cairo. The Trend Micro office was designed to be more than just a functional office space as it also acts as a training center for recent university graduates. The essence of the design was to combine functionality and the energetic influence required for the educational hub, while reflecting Trend Micro’s position as a global technology company. “As an architect and designer, I seek perfection, and this project is very close to my heart as I knew that my designs would affect the students and could change their way of thinking about educational premises,” commented Sadany. The design elements of the office include the use of broken lines and the manipulation of space to create a futuristic working and studying environment. The office also features a lot of glass and mirrors that have been used to augment sunlight, while a glass bridge offers a grand view of the entire office, all the way to the entrance. The new office also blends the landscape, intentionally bringing the outdoors inside to make people using the place feel like they are very close to nature. p

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TownTalk

Tamer Refaat Appointed Director of Sales and Marketing for InterContinental Hotels Group Citystars Simon W. Stamper, Director of Operations, Africa & Area General Manager at InterContinental Hotels Group Cairo Citystars, has announced the appointment of Tamer Refaat to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing. Tamer joins the hotel with over 20 years of hospitality experience and extensive knowledge of the Egyptian luxury market. Prior to starting at InterContinental Hotels Group Citystars, Tamer worked as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh. Other experiences include Hyatt, Accor, Starwood and Conrad. As Director of Sales and Marketing, he will be responsible for leading the development and execution of strategic sales and marketing plans in the 3 IHG Citystars hotels and will continue the efforts to deliver outstanding guests service and financial profitability. He will be leading the teams of Sales, Events Management and Marketing Communications. Tamer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1996. p

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Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Cements its Stronghold in Egypt with New Resort Signed in a Prime Golf Destination Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is ramping up its presence in Egypt, revealing plans to add a new modern integrated beach and golf resort to its portfolio of 16 hotels and river cruisers. The global hospitality group has inked an agreement with Galalah Co. For Touristic Investments S.A.E. to manage the 214-key Mövenpick Hotel El Ein Bay, its second property in the desirable coastal area of El Sokhna. The first, Mövenpick Resort El Sokhna, is owned by a sister firm of Galalah Co. Often referred to as “Cairo Beach”, El Sokhna is the closest seaside destination to the Egyptian capital and has also carved a niche as a top regional golf location. The new contemporary resort will boast stunning views of a world-class 18-hole golf course. The new hotel, set to open in 2020, is envisaged as a chic and contemporary resort with 214 rooms and suites; five dining options, including a specialty restaurant and a rooftop lounge; meeting and event space spanning more than 1,000 sqm; a large swimming pool; and an extensive spa and fitness facility. p

STYLE MassiMo Dutti unveils ss17 collection at cFc store

n a special event held at the Cairo Festival City store, Massimo Dutti launched its Spring/Summer 2017 collection. The Massimo Dutti Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s line for the SS17 season focuses on chic and urban women, defined by eclectic seventies outfits.

The option for a more modern and feminine style is, without hesitation, with pieces of clothing which represent a perfect balance between classic and modern. On the other side, the Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection for SS17 blurs the line between smart and casual where a suit combined with sneakers is a must. Stylists Nour Bayadi and Ahmed Hamdy were present on ground to give expert styling tips to the attendees. p

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STYLE

BEACH ESSENTIALS FOR THE SUMMER

Summer holidays have begun, and families and friends are all heading to their favorite waterfront destinations to enjoy some time off at the beach. We put together some accessories for you to provide you with a hassle and worry-free vacation!

Enormous yEt Light BEachyhEads Beachyheadsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; beautiful range of umbrellas and beach accessories are by Anne Young. Take your pick from fun, subtle choices such as Houndstooth, Damask, Polka Dot and Chevron or something a little quirkier such as Fish Scales and Sea Horses.

thE BEach gLass The pointed stem can be inserted into the sand or ground, perfect for beach outings or wherever a table is not available. They even float on water! Made of shatter-resistant acrylic, they are dishwasher safe and more durable than glass or plastic.

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canon PowErshot d30 To avoid accidents, do not bring a camera to the beach unless it is a waterproof and shockproof version like the compact Canon PowerShot D30. In addition to being lightweight and easy to pack, this camera is optimized for shooting in direct sunlight, perfect for creating memories!

the Curvy Chair Its got a shape-hugging design and slots for continued air flow, and you will never want to go anywhere without it again. No more looking around for free chairs, or settling for sitting on the sand after getting out of the water.

adjustable tents Not only are adjustable tents the more trendy type of umbrella, but they also allow you to show up at the beach at whatever time you please, without the worry of not finding a shaded spot. There are many colorful options and it is very simple to set up.

dualCharge Charge your GoPro or phone up to three times with Dualcharge. Dual USB ports allow you to charge multiple devices at once, and recharge your Dualcharge device via the included USB cable or the solar panel, which will automatically fill up the battery when exposed to solar rays.

Waterproof playing Cards To keep you and your family and friends busy when you are not in the water, pack along waterproof playing cards that will never get damaged by sand and water, and they also float! They are washable and easy to shuffle, not to mention can endure any outdoor exposure.

Waterproof Cases We all know that technology and water do not mix! Protect your phone while you are at the beach with waterproof cases. A recommended case with excellent reviews is The Joto Dry Pouch, which accomodates all types of smartphones, in addition to having enough room to hold a bit of cash and a credit card. The case is completely seethrough on both sides, includes a handy lanyard, is budget-friendly and of high quality. p

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STYLE

Lifestyle Blogger Hana El awadi Creator of the #hanagoeslocal Campaign The Egyptian fashion scene has brilliantly stepped into the spotlight over the past few years with a rise in the number of talented Egyptian designers with their stylish, modern and most importantly excellent quality products. In order to create a buzz on what is available in the market, many fashion bloggers and influencers started featuring fashion items to spark the interest of potential shoppers. By Ola El Soueni

ana El Awadi, a well-known blogger and influencer who graduated from the American Intercontinental University in the UK with a degree in International Business, created a campaign with the hashtag #hanagoeslocal to shed light on quality Egyptian products that are worth buying. She features many of the designers’ clothes, home accessories, jewelry and cosmetic products, all with the purpose of boosting the Egyptian economy by encouraging the public to support locally made products.

Personal life and early Career “I am addicted to social media and that is how it all started. Social media played a vital role in changing our lives, bringing people together, sharing information and making us all feel connected,” she mentions. “I am a blogger, and I do this with a twist, since I blog through images shared online and through social media and not as a journal,” says El Awadi. Originally a jewelry designer, she gained a good customer base when she showcased her pieces online. “Wanting to become a blogger started when I realized that my jewelry followers were not only interested in shopping for my pieces, but also in my lifestyle, fashion items, places I enjoy going to and many other aspects of my life. In addition, I understand that through social media you can actually make a living, so I decided to share more and eventually other businesses started to reach out to collaborate with me on certain products,” she explains. “At the beginning, I was super excited, but I later realized that I was not being true to myself as I would not actually use all of the products, so I changed my plan and only decided to work with

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brands that I believe in and would want to promote,” clarifies El Awadi. Hana personally tries many of the designers’ products before she recommends them to her audience.

#hanagoesloCal CamPaign With the devaluation of the pound, she decided to start her #hanagoeslocal campaign. “When I first launched it, I had no idea that it would gain this much positive feedback,” she comments. Hana joined Instagram six years ago, but it was not until a little less than three years ago that she decided she wanted to turn it into a business. “I design jewelry by order and have also established one of the first locally inspired brands for both men and women that I was able to place in areas like Bloomingdales Dubai. Unfortunately, after the revolution, I had to close down as I could not keep up anymore, but I currently have another local line that I recently started called @KAIYRO, a lifestyle concept from the streets of Cairo,” adds El Awadi. Nuniz, Okhtein and Incredible Jeans are some of her favorite Egyptian designers. “I wanted the hashtag to be a platform for local designers to shine and showcase their great products. I used my account to encourage my followers to support these talents because it was something that would help out the community, as I do all the #hanagoeslocal posts for free,” says El Awadi.

I wanted the hashtag to be a platform for local designers to shine and showcase their great products. I used my account to encourage my followers to support these talents because it was something that would help out the community, as I do all the #hanagoeslocal posts for free Achievements And chAllenges “My greatest achievement is my children! From a work aspect, my #hanagoeslocal campaign is something I am very proud of because I know it has helped Egyptian designers gain recognition and boost their sales,” she mentions. According to her, she faces a lot of challenges when she goes about her work, which includes her concern that because she does not have over 100,000 followers, she will not be recognized by other businesses. “Companies want huge numbers of followers regardless of whether their profile is what they are looking for or not, and sometimes they are not clear on whom they are targeting. What is really alarming is that one can actually buy followers, so who really has a loyal customer base?”

FAshion scene in egypt And dubAi El Awadi mentions that the fashion scene in Egypt has tremendously evolved, and she believes that with the great diversity of designers and quality products, it only keeps getting better. As she lived a part of her life in Dubai, she also had some input on the difference between the two countries in the world of fashion. “Dubai is very different from Cairo, as it is very brandoriented and everyone is always dressed up, while in Cairo, we are more relaxed, but of course this depends on the social scene you are in,” concludes El Awadi.

Future plAns El Awadi’s plans for the future would include changing her hashtag to #shophanagoeslocal, where interested clients can shop all the incredible pieces she promotes on her social media pages from a one-stop online page or store. p For more information: Instagram: @hanaelawadi Facebook: hana elawadi Website: www.hanaelawadi.com

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Culture Art Unconventional egyptian Artists take on Visual Arts By Hania Moheeb Egypt has seen a rise in talent, especially after the revolution, where artists turned to different forms of art to express their emotions, and became more confident in establishing a career in this profession as the population began to further recognize and appreciate their work. With the rise of technology, different and more complex visual arts have made an appearance, widening the scope of art.

Shaimaa Kamel “She’s daring, isn’t she?” These were the first words of the art gallery curator about the paintings of Shaimaa Kamel. The energy that Kamel transmits in the place is vividly reflected in her works. Her Nubian roots do not only show in her features but also in the very vibrant colors of her art. It might be shocking that a woman from Upper Egypt would be that daring in expressing women’s issues and dilemmas, but another genuine trait – determination – is what moves Kamel. “I have always been working and working without thinking or paying much attention to the taboos and restrictions that society imposes upon us,” says Kamel. In spite of all the boldness and the overwhelming passion for art, Kamel had failed to convince her family that she should study it, and studied psychology instead, yet managed to enroll in free courses with artists at the Faculty of Fine Arts. This issue with her family dissolved after the success of her first solo show in 2004. Following her first show in 2004, she started taking part in exhibitions and events in Egypt like the National Exhibition for Fine Arts, Youth Salon and other group shows and events. Over the years she got a number of residencies in Greece, Germany, the US and most recently, in Switzerland for three months sponsored by pro Helvetia.

Artwork

Her latest exhibition titled “Cinderella Tales” says it all. She uses nude female figures, depictions of women entirely covered in black, several cartoon characters like Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Belle and pictures of roses, combining these contrasting elements to emphasize the contradictions between reality and how society portrays women, and at times, to emphasize pain. Kamel’s use of collage is not at all excessive

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but very carefully employed. She resorts to material that is not commonly used, like fabric from old dresses, fragments of nylon tablecloth and crochet table mats. One of the main features of Kamel’s work is the use of animal figures, like cats, rabbits and lions, which she sees as very handy symbols that effectively convey messages. Just like cartoons, animals help Kamel portray the comic, yet sad contradictions that Egyptians are living. “What we live everyday is ‘farce’ and this is what I am trying to relay” she mentions.

InspIrAtIon And BelIefs

“I am not a feminist. I believe in equality and justice and nowadays there is no room for denial. The way Egyptians see women, mothers, daughters and wives has become quite exposed lately and it is obvious that there is a great deal of disruption. The problem is not only how men treat women but also what women do to women,” says Kamel. The exhibition is a documentation of an era according to Kamel. The project is full of icons much relevant to the two years that followed the revolution within the context of women’s struggles, the male dominated culture, the abuse of religion and the fake images projected to children about how a woman should be. When Kamel first started, from 1997 to 2004, she was totally focused on herself and her sufferings, dreams and issues. She talks about the turning point in her career, “It was believing that I should move from the very personal and subjective issues to issues of public and human concern in general. I believe that the genuine artist contributes to changing the world so the artist should have a globalist approach.”

the rIse of Art In egypt

Being part of the generation that made the revolution, Kamel fully believes in the vitality of change. She still has hope and believes that regardless of all the disappointment, the revolution has done much, “I even see it in the way many girls dress: they stick to the almost obligatory hair cover yet chose to dress in a way that totally defies society. I call this rebellion,” Kamel says. She is also enthusiastic about the Internet being such a great tool for knowledge and believes that in a few years it can compensate for the long years of a deliberate state of ignorance. The ambitious artist believes that the revolution created a big market for the arts and gave room for variety. From her point of view, graffiti had a huge impact, even for the layman, “Because the visual aspects in our life are very ugly with little color or greenery, people have welcomed graffiti. I believe that they will want to have more of it and more art in their lives in the future.”

Ahmed NAgui Artists present in the age of technology might find it difficult to stop at using traditional media. Ahmed Nagui is one of those artists who started expressing himself through abstract paintings when he first graduated from the Faculty of Arts Education back in 2002. It was not sufficient, so he started pursuing video art right after he learned how to edit, mentioning that it gave him the element of time.

InspIratIon and BelIefs

“To me, art is not the naive expression of private emotions. Instead, art is searching for what the images have to say, an attempt to comprehend values and perceive the relation between things like politics and religion. Art is foreseeing an event before it happens, like a revolution for example,” says Nagui.

experIence and Work

“In 2007, I attempted at creating my first video that I called ‘Two Layers’. After I learned how to edit, I came up with an idea based on society and how the different classes interact. I had read a book by Aristotle about social systems, and what he said applied to our society,” says Nagui. Nagui’s video and mixed media work went hand in hand with workshops, exhibitions, studies and numerous cultural events that he organized for younger talents. His work includes projects such as “Two Taia3”, “Random Systematic Research” and “Interview”. The main theme portrayed by most his works is cultural consumption and how the media invades the minds of people, feeding them what it wants them to believe. This was presented in his project “Two Taia3” in 2009, which included two screens projected on the wall and a brick cube being built in the center of the hall, comparing the consumption of media to food consumption. The project evokes most of the senses and uses a number of analogies; the right hand screen shows a man consuming all kinds of food for 20 minutes while the left hand screen had an illustrated lesion explaining how the TV set decodes TV signals. The brick cube and the smell of cement are meant to intensify the feeling of readiness for consumption. Another tool that Nagui uses is text. He focused on text in a number of projects like in “When We Succeed and We Will Succeed” and “Sympathizing with Hysteria”. “I am crazy about relating science to art,” says Nagui who knows how to implement science in his works very well, and is fascinated with mathematics and nano-technology, which is evident in his film “Ultimate Computing – the Holy Zero” produced in 2010.

competItIons and exhIBItIons

Though the Youth Saloon, a competition organized by the Ministry of Culture, is the main event that recognizes young artists, Nagui had a bad experience, being met with bias and unfair evaluation when he first enrolled in the event in 2003. However, he won one of its prizes in 2009. That year, he decided to enroll when he learned that curator George Zaki chose a jury of reputable young contemporary artists, who had no involvement neither with the contestants nor with the ministry. In October 2013, Nagui participated in the project “Wavy Banners” organized by the Cultural Collaboration in Mid and West Jutland. The city is a peninsula in Denmark overlooking the North Sea, which is why the theme was “waves”. Though Nagui did not seek to exhibit in public places, he was intrigued when the show curator informed him that the artists would be given the freedom of interpreting the wave. Once more, he resorted to geometry, playing with triangles and shapes in repetition to create a piece that resembled sea waves.

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Culture Art

Hala El-Koussy “The city is a monster. Since 2003, I define it as a machine that thrives on grinding people, but there are always interruptions to the work of this machine and people manage to create alternative spaces for themselves. If we look at the behavior of those individuals, we can explain it as chaotic and demagogic, but looking at the larger picture, we can see an alternative system, and what is amazing about it is that it is flexible and not rigid. This system is not necessarily progressive but it serves for survival,” says Hala ElKoussy. El-Koussy, who got her degree from The American University in Cairo in 1998 in Business Administration, studied photography at school and upon graduation, she worked as a photographer for advertising. She started a career in art in 2000 and got her MA in Image and Communication at Goldsmiths College in London, and later got a number of residencies among which was the Bijlmair residency in Amsterdam South East in 2008. “After I came back to Egypt, I was concerned about using a form of symbolism that was not native to me. I did not want to take the Western legacy when I could create my own symbolism, which would prove more difficult for Western audiences to comprehend. I do not use Arabic text for instance, because I think that visual arts are about the picture; they do not need a translator,” she explains.

InspIratIon

In an approach that falls midway between research and visual arts, El-Koussy has invested the greater part of her life in studying the city, interacting with it and recreating beauty out of chaos. The metropolis is intriguing and inspiring to many artists, but El-Koussy delves deeper into its history,

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I do not use Arabic text for instance, because I think that visual arts are about the picture; they do not need a translator.

architecture, people, culture and peripheries. “I have been working on the city’s history for the last 15 years, mainly using secondary sources,” says El-Koussy.

Projects

El-Koussy started her career as a photographer, then decided to experiment with video art. Her film produced in 2004 titled, “Stories on the Periphery” was one of the earliest works to tackle the phenomenon of the new cities that emerged around Cairo. Most of the film’s narration is built from the city’s promotional brochures at that time. She says that 19th Century Cairo was promoted with the same marketing strategy; wide streets, greenery, clean sidewalks, colossal government buildings, etc., and similarly it failed to keep what it had promised. The film was shown on the sidelines of the Venice Biennale for architecture. “Through a journey in a microbus, I show different stories that were published in newspapers about real people. My characters are castaways obliged to live on the periphery,” says El-Koussy. Another project Hala has worked on in 2010 took her to the heart of the city once more. “I was commissioned by a British organization to make a video about the city, but they wanted to dictate the subject. I presented the proposal and after getting the approval, I worked on the project for an entire year. I decided to deal with the colonial history so I created an installation that combined documents, pictures and bills that were all crammed and displayed on a wall in a logical order. I placed many mirrors so that the walls would reflect one another.” The material exhibited led to yet another project on Cairo. “In Search of a City” (2011), a 34-minute film following the footsteps of an imaginary character, Sein, who roams the streets of the 19th Century city wearing a plain dress and observing numerous details that reveal conflict between traditional and modern and local and foreign. The main character is silent throughout most of the film, hearing her voice only in the narration. The film is brilliantly shot in different locations in downtown Cairo, mostly in the rare moments when the city is empty.

AwArds And exhibitions

In 2010, El-Koussy won the Abraaj Capital prize, the highest cash prize in the world presented at Dubai Art Fair. The panoramic piece by the artist titled, “The Room of Myths and Legends” was described by the Financial Times as being a prophecy of the Arab Spring. “I worked on a huge mural that was 3x9 meters that included a mosaic of images with a big black soldier in the middle inspired by a book by Youssef Idris. The soldier’s attire is a mix of a number of uniforms, and his surroundings represent the myths and legends of Egypt, some of them in the folkloric historical context and others in the symbolic context,” she says. The panorama was shown in London in the summer of 2011.

Art After the revolution

In the months following the January revolution, graffiti was everywhere and all demonstrations and public events went on with revolutionary tunes in the background. In 2012, El-Koussy thought it was hard to contribute to the revolution in conventional ways. In cooperation with a team of artists she had been working with for some years, she directed what can be classified as a video clip for the song by Bassem Wadie written by Poet Mostafa Ibrahim about the martyrs of the revolution, titled “Folan ElFolany” or “John Doe”.

foto MAsr

Hala launched a Facebook page called “Foto Masr” where she added old black and white pictures of Egypt from her private collection, in addition to pictures that she buys especially for the project. A collection of pictures from Foto Masr has been exhibited in 2014 and another batch of them turned into a book titled, “Wedding Photos”. She also encourages visitors to contribute photos of their own. To her, this is history that can’t be forged or messed with. “I am already past striving for individual success; I rather enjoy teamwork and sharing success with others.” p Jul/AuG 2017 | Ct

Culture Art

Award-Winning Artist Ibrahim Shalabi Combines Art with Values

By Ahmed Kafafi

Ct | Jul/AUG 2017

hen choosing a theme for their works, artists usually wait until they have enough paintings to qualify for a worthwhile exhibition. However, Ibrahim Shalabi selects only one theme for each of his exhibitions and is clever enough to play on it to produce scores of breathtaking pieces that arrest both mind and feelings. The common perception about a one-motif exhibition is that the embodiment of the same theme might produce monotony; but Shalabi has shattered this perception.

Not only does Shalabi avoid repetitive themes, but also techniques. His last event that came to the limelight in December 2010, one month before the outbreak of the January Revolution, was not apolitical. Instead of using brush and watercolors in his “I Will Hear, See and Talk”, he used works of his own eyes, ears and mouth. The exhibition’s idea came when Shalabi noticed that the injustices suffered by people were the result of their own indifference and negativity towards what was going on, and with the help of a friend, he managed to take pictures of his own facial features, which he later edited, mixed and enlarged to give the required effect.

As you view his artistic creations at his events, you will be amazed at the interesting variety he can create from one topic. For the last year, Shalabi has been preparing for his upcoming event, “A’al Ramla” (On the Sand), which is scheduled to feature by January 2018 at the Atelier gallery in downtown Cairo. Part of it was exhibited a month ago at the Isis Hall at Mahmoud Mokhtar Museum in an event dubbed “Nawafiz Ibdaa” (Windows of Creativity).

The exhibition included 36 edited shots that were equally divided into three sections with one devoted to ears, and the other two to eyes and mouths respectively. Ironically, the revolution started a month later and the event became timely, for the masses began to unblock their senses and took to the streets to challenge the oppressive powers. “Unlike the attitude of other artists who opt for highlighting the problems between painting frames, mine is to suggest a way out. I have a message to convey through art, and this was portrayed in this exhibition that encouraged people to take the blocks off their senses and react,” he remarks.

“A’al Ramla” consists of a series of artistic shots that depict the activities of simple people on the beach. Originally from Kafr El Sheikh, Shalabi is a frequent visitor of the sea resorts around Baltim and Ras Elbar, both common destinations during the summer vacations for many villagers who live in the Delta triangle. “The exhibition will include 50 works that capture the movements of beach goers,” says Shalabi. “Those movements range from kids playing and women swimming in their galabiyas, to men and boys playing soccer or water polo and families eating their meals,” he adds. Shalabi has opted for this theme at a time when many artists are covering political issues. “A’al Ramla” is a break from his other events that have been addressing such issues, as he believes that interacting with and reacting to the political mainstream to excess could result in the repetition of themes and ideas. “I prefer to be different,” he stresses.

Almost a decade before that revolution, Shalabi presented “Fedaa” (Sacrifice) that highlighted the Palestinian issue, focusing mainly on The Intifada and the isolation of the Palestinian people. His artwork was exhibited at the Spanish Cultural Centre, and the main highlights “Fedaa” as well as “Genin” were bought by an art organization in Alexandria. Also, some of his works are currently being displayed at the Tanta and Kafr El Sheikh universities, as well as art institutions in Saudi Arabia and Spain. Between 2000 and 2017, he featured his own solo exhibitions and participated in Arab and international events. p

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Culture Books

Diwan’s Summer Book Recommendations

Draw Every Day, Draw Every Way By Jennifer Orkin Lewis The High Mountains of Portugal By Yann Martel A man thrown backwards by heartbreak goes in search of an artifact that could unsettle history. A woman carries her husband to a doctor in a suitcase. A Canadian senator begins a new life, in a new country and in the company of a chimp called Odo. From the author of Life of Pi, these stories of journeying and of loss and faith make a novel unlike any other: moving, profound and magical.

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To conquer the intimidating prospect of filling 365 blank spaces, Lewis divides the journal into twelve monthly themes and provides prompts suggesting what to draw each day. Each month begins with an inspiring tutorial that shows you how to draw with different materials: ballpoint pens, metallic gel pens, colored pencils, paint and collage. The entries are not dated, and so you can work through the journal from front to back, or jump around and draw whatever appeals to you at the moment.

Be creative with your gifts and make reading a habit for your friends and family or fill your beach bag with books and find a comfortable reading spot with a great view this summer vacation. Here are some of the books recommended and released by Diwan that range from fiction and children’s books to cooking, and that appeal to an array of readers.

Sunshine on a Rainy Day By Bryony Fraser A funny, feel-good romantic comedy that proves to be a hilarious and heartbreaking read for anyone whose life has not quite gone according to plan. Marriage is not for everyone – something that a couple discovered around the time they were celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Sharing a beautiful home, they are both stuck together, neither one of them willing to move out. The only book that fans of Bridget Jones and Marian Keyes need.

Midnight Gang By David Walliams Strangers By Paul Finch

Homo Deus By Yuval Noah Harari

A stranger is just a killer you have not met yet…

Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the 21st Century – from overcoming death to creating artificial life. It asks the fundamental questions: Where do we go from here? How will we protect this fragile world from our own destructive powers? This book is the next stage of evolution that makes readers lost in thought.

For those looking for a dark and gritty read, the Sunday Times bestseller returns with the story of PC Lucy Clayburn who goes undercover on the trail of a prolific female serial killer and unfortunately steps into her line of fire.

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy By Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Ten illustrated stories following the adventures of Simon Lewis, star of the bestselling series The Mortal Instruments, as he trains to become a Shadowhunter. Simon has been a human and a vampire, but after the events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, he is not sure who he is any more. When the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again.

Midnight is the time when all children are fast asleep, except of course for the Midnight Gang. The book tells an extraordinarily heartwarming and, of course, humorous story of five children at a hospital ward – and on a quest for adventure!

The Bookshop By Penelope Fitzgerald In a small East Anglian town, widower Florence Green risks everything, against polite but ruthless local opposition, to open the first bookshop in the area.

Barbecue By Academia Barilla Barilla’s beloved food series offers up to 50 delectable Italian recipes that you can barbecue and grill right in your backyard or kitchen. Created for Italian food lovers, Barbecue packs in first and second courses, sides and desserts. All fabulous dishes are super-easy to prepare, and each represents the distinct flavors and fresh ingredients of the many regions of Italy. Plus, there are stories and interesting facts about the ingredients that can later be retold to impress friends and family.

The 100 Photographs That Changed the World By Federica Guarnieri and Roberto Mottadelli In celebration of the importance photography has in capturing significant historical moments, White Star have collected 100 of the most famous photographs in contemporary history in this beautiful volume. p Jul/AUG 2017 | Ct

Culture Books

Heba El Sagheer’s The Silkworm An Average Book by an Outstanding Writer

Review by Basma Mostafa

f you tend to judge a book by its cover, you may feel hardpressed to guess what Heba El Sagheer means by the title of her novel “The Silkworm”. As you start reading, you will come to understand that El Sagheer uses the transformation of a silkworm to a butterfly as a metaphor for change, referring to the changes that happen to people throughout their life.

Set in pre-revolutionary Cairo, this Arabic novel follows the story of stay-at-home wife Batalah (Arabic for heroine), who harbors a deep loneliness in her heart because her husband, Jawwad, is always away on business. Tired of spending all her time by herself and seeking some form of human companionship, Batalah tries to reconnect with her old friends and invites them over to her place. While her friends stand in awe at the grandeur of her twostory villa, Batalah does not see the true value of the blessings that surround her and feels nothing but longing for her ever-absent husband. The novel also loosely follows the stories of Batalah’s friends, Ashraf, Ahmed and Mona. Ashraf, a writer and poet who dreams of publishing his first book, is under pressure to accept a corporate job to make a more decent living. Ahmed and Mona are a married couple who consider leaving the country in search of a better life. This group of friends discuss politics and the current economic situation in Egypt, and in their stories, El Sagheer sheds light on a plethora of problems that face our generation. However, the author does not simply stop at that; she also introduces other characters and their more complex stories. Readers are familiarized with Sameer, Batalah’s scientist brother who lives in the USA, and his friends. Through recounting their stories, El Sagheer refers to how skilled and competent scientists work and live in the West, depriving their poorer home countries of their knowledge. The downfall of “The Silkworm” is that there is no main problem that’s solution gets revealed by the end of the book. The plot has no climax, and at times you may feel that you are hurriedly flipping through the pages, not because you are so eager to find out what will happen next, but because you are waiting for something significant to happen. The novel features so many stories that El Sagheer is trying to weave together and, as a result, some of the main characters seem disconnected and their lives do not stand on common ground. Another problem is that she has tried to tackle way too many problems in a single book, adding several unrelated subplots. Some of the characters and consequently their stories contribute little to the main flow of events, if you can identify what the main flow of events actually is. El Sagheer has written, for example, that Ashraf is in love with Batalah, a plot twist that could have added a lot of depth to the story but that the author mentions only in passing.

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She expands her story to cover topics that go beyond the problems of twenty-something Egyptians. She also refers to more complicated problems of the Middle East such as delayed scientific progress, corrupt presidents and how terrorism is in fact an American invention. However, the author has not succeeded in making a strong connection between the main characters’ stories and these themes. As for the development of the characters, El Sagheer has not done them enough justice. Most of the characters are unpredictable, and at times, it is difficult to understand the motives behind their actions. For instance, Batalah has an emotional meltdown, goes over to her father’s house, and has an angry outburst, blaming him for almost everything that went wrong in her life. However, this sort of action was difficult to swallow as from the beginning of the novel and up to this point, Batalah’s problems seemed to be summarized in the boredom and loneliness she felt when her husband was away. On very rare occasions did she express anger at her father for remarrying after her mother’s death. Another incident that showed the lack of maturity of the characters was when at the end of the novel, Batalah’s husband informs her that he was involved in a Jihadi organization in Iraq before they got married. Throughout the novel, he was always the hardworking businessman, showing absolutely no signs that he was even remotely interested in such a thing. Just like us mere readers, Batalah was also surprised at the news, which makes the whole issue more bizarre since they had known each other since college. Furthermore, some of the coincidences incorporated in the novel are not really believable. The incident through which we find out that Jawwad is married to another woman has got to raise a few eyebrows, especially given the fact that said second wife is from Jordan. Batalah’s cousin meets the Jordanian wife by chance and sees a photo of Jawwad in her wallet. One has got to wonder however, what are the chances of a Jordanian woman coming all the way to Egypt and meeting Batalah’s cousin specifically? Even if we assume that this is plausible enough, what are the chances that the cousin would stumble upon Jawwad’s photo in the woman’s wallet? El Sagheer is a talented writer who is capable of creating powerful imagery, and it is refreshing to see a thoroughly researched novel by an up-and-coming young writer, but “The Silkworm” does not rise above being a mediocre book. If El Sagheer had focused on developing a solid main storyline, the book would have read like a more coherent whole. However, truth be told, it is her first novel, and it is very likely that her story telling skills will become much sharper by the time she publishes her second. p

MIND, BODY & SOUL

The

Power of Words Words can put you on a carousel – if you do not control them. They either make or break you, uplift or destroy you, liberate or trap you. Regardless of what they express, words shape your entire reality and reflect what you carry inside. Your thoughts, emotions and belief systems end up in a description that your words create. This description creates the story you are living.

By Selma Köhn

Word detox

Take a moment and think about the language you are using everyday. Is it filled with encouraging or discouraging words? Do you choose yourself or are you driven by the word ticker in your mind? Have you ever questioned the stories you are telling yourself? Language is more than just a structure of grammar, spelling and rules. Through language, we convey a message that is inside of us. Words play with our imagination, thoughts and emotions, as the meaning we attach to it is the core of it. Given how influential the effect of words is having on your life, becoming conscious of what you say to yourself and others is actually essential, and an obligation. Most of us want to have a life filled with positivity, in which some succeed at achieving while others do not. While the former tends to be positive, naturally the latter gravitates towards negativity. The difference between both cases is the choice of words, which is the good news, as you have a choice of controlling your mind – if you decide to. There is a difference between the words: “I wish I could and I can, I want to and I will, I am a loser and I am a winner”.

There is a difference between the words “I wish I could and I can, I want to and I will, I am a loser and I am a winner”. Each word has its own story and vibration. 26

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Each word has its own story and vibration, and if you say it over and over again, it becomes the imprint inside of you from which your life enfolds. This reflects the universal law “as within, so without”, which is what every religious or spiritual movement teaches you. Indeed, we interpret the outside according to what we have stored inside. In fact, what is manifested in our subconscious mind is steering our conscious living, and as limitless as our thoughts are, so are our words. Again, take a moment and recall the main thoughts you have about yourself, your life and others. What do they symbolize? What do they tell you? How do they make you feel? It all depends on how everything makes you feel.

Words and Water Like thoughts and emotions, words are energy. When they align with each other, either something beautiful or something ugly is created. “A combination of non-resonating vibration can result in destructive energy, and nothing can be created out of it,” said Masaru Emoto, a Japanese scientist. “When some vibration and the other resonate each other, it always creates a beautiful design.”

When you recall events where you told yourself or heard someone saying something negative about you, how did it make you feel? Did it strengthen or weaken you? What effect did it have on your body posture? In 1994, Emoto conducted an experiment with water crystals where he explored the effect words have on water. He was convinced that water was the “blueprint for our reality” and thoughts and emotions expressed through words are nothing less than energy and vibration, which influences the physical structure of water. With his “Messages from Water” experiment, he proved himself right. Emoto froze water in different bottles, and on each bottle, he wrote different words like “Ugly, Happiness, Gratitude, I love you…”. When he looked at the water crystals of each bottle under the microscope, he saw that they would transform themselves either into a beautiful or ugly form. While the crystals from the bottle with the word gratitude had an immensely beautiful shape, the ones from the bottle with the word ugly had almost no shape at all. Now, adapt these findings to yourself, especially to your body. When you recall events where you told yourself or heard someone saying something negative about you, how did it make you feel? Did it strengthen or weaken you? What effect did it have on your body posture? Our body is made up of 70 to 80% water, so when you apply Emoto’s findings to the water crystals in your body, you will notice the intense effect words are having on you. When you

think about it further, the effect the story of your mind has on your health is tremendous. Doctors found out that almost 73% of all diseases stem from negative inner dialogue.

Words and Vibration Another scientist who discovered that different words carry different vibrations was David Hawkins. In his book “Power vs. Force”, he created a map of consciousness where he listed different emotional states on a scale from 0 to 1000. For example, at the bottom is the depressive, at 200 is the courageous, at 500 the love and above 700 is the enlightenment state. When he measured the world’s population in 1995, he found out that more than 70% vibrate very low, around the number 200. This is mainly due to us being more in our egostate mind than in our spirit-state mind. Only when you raise your vibration can you change your life, and you can raise your vibrational state by the words you use. Even if you are feeling low, you can consciously talk yourself out of it. It is easier for those who tend to be more optimistic than those wired to pessimism, but the good news is that we all have the choice of changing the thoughts we think. As they say, life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. By changing your level of consciousness, you can actively influence the course of your life. p

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FEATURE

Female Uber Drivers in Cairo Navigating the Streets of the Chaotic City By Basma Mostafa

From microbuses cutting you off to pedestrians crossing the street without even looking, it is no secret that driving in Cairo is a nerve-racking experience, even more so for women who choose driving as a profession. We interviewed four women out of the hundreds who work for Uber to bring you their stories and experiences. Dina ali Shortly before graduation, Ali was under the impression that she would land her dream job with the snap of a finger, but when things did not work out as she had imagined, she decided to look at matters from a different perspective. “I already had my own car, so I figured why not put it to good use? I started offering rides to female friends and friends of friends. Most of my female passengers felt safe riding with a woman, and so my network of personal connections snowballed from there.” Ali’s work in the private driving business continued for eight years before one of her passengers introduced her to Uber, an experience which has proven to be quite adventurous for her. “Most of the clients I pick up through Uber are often astonished at the fact that it is a woman sitting behind the wheel, but many loosen up and start making jokes. When they arrive at their destination, they leave me with a heartfelt goodbye and sincere words of encouragement.”

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On one occasion, Ali received a pick-up request from a guy who then refused to get into the car once he saw she was a woman. “He probably thought I was ‘Diaa’, but I turned out to be ‘Dina’. He called and asked if he could cancel the trip,” she recounts, adding that her curiosity got the best of her and she just had to know why he would not ride with a woman. His answer was that the situation was awkward and he did not want to cause her any embarrassment. “I suppressed the urge to raise an eyebrow and told him instead that he was probably the thousandth guy I had picked up, so it was never an embarrassing experience for me. I also explained that he would have to pay a 10 LE cancellation fee and I convinced him to let me drop him off wherever he wanted,” explains Ali. “He ended up being one of the most decent human beings I have ever met in my entire life, and not just through Uber.” However, throughout her journey, Ali has also stumbled upon some unpleasant passengers. “Some of the women I offer rides to throw judgmental looks in my direction and behave with an air of superiority.” Ali has had a single strongly inconvenient incident with a client. “After accepting a request, his first comment when he stepped into my car was, ‘what forced you to accept such a job?’” recounts Ali. I answered casually and did not think much of his question at first,” she explains. “However, the questions got more personal. He started asking if I was married or engaged, after which I told him that my marital status was irrelevant to the situation. He retreated and said he was just concerned for me as a brother. He even left me his personal number so that I can call him if I ever needed anything. At that point, I felt that he had crossed the line, so I pulled over and asked him to step out of the car.”

“He did not react well to the situation, of course, and even threatened to file a complaint to the company, but I could not allow him into my car again. I sent an email to Uber and they were very understanding of the situation,” she adds. Ali’s favorite part about working with Uber is that the job puts no limitation on her. “I love being my own boss, and the flexible hours allow me to take care of my father and to travel whenever I feel like it.” When asked about whether she ever feels worried about letting complete strangers into her car, she mentions, “It all depends on the neighborhood I am picking up people from. The most worried I have been was when I had to pick up four men together. If they had any thoughts of hurting me, I could have never put up a fight, but fortunately nothing happened.”

AmAni mohsen Mohsen was also only offering rides to women before she started working with Uber. “During my early days with the company, I was very reluctant to allow men I did not know into my car. However, as I picked up more people, I realized that it was generally a safe experience,” explains Mohsen. Despite the fact that she has been working with the company for well over a year and that the number of female drivers working with Uber is on the rise, many of Mohsen’s passengers still react with amazement whenever they see her. “Many men are not sure whether they should ride in the passenger seat or the back seat, while many women tell me they feel safer riding with me and have expressed concern for my own safety,” she adds. Mohsen recounts the most challenging situation she has ever faced on the job. “I was supposed to pick up a client, who had a five-star rating. This usually indicates that he had just signed up for the application, and thus it was very likely that he had set the wrong pickup location. My doubts were confirmed when I waited for 15 minutes and he still had not arrived,” she explains. “I advised him to set a more accurate pickup location, and he just kept asking me in a condescending tone to hurry up and get it all over with, even after entering the car. I do not know where I found the courage, but I pulled over and asked him to step out of the car. He began cursing and using very foul language, and even went as far as threatening me if I leave,” narrates Mohsen. “At the end, I called the company and made a complaint, but the whole issue left me so shaken up that I could not work for a few days after.”

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FEATURE

rania ibrahim Ibrahim, who works in her family business, explains that she took up a job with Uber because she had a lot of free time on her hands. “My children were growing up and were less dependent on me so more time was clearing up. At the same time, I wanted to do something to provide a better life for them,” she adds. Ibrahim chose Uber because the service provided by the company hit close to home. “I was always concerned about my daughter’s safety and I had to pick her up and drop her off whenever she went out up until she graduated high school,” Ibrahim illustrates. With the introduction of Uber to the Egyptian market, Ibrahim felt she had another choice, a choice that she wanted to become a part of.

Shahd Omar

Ibrahim explains that her experiences with her passengers have so far been pleasant. “Some of the male riders I usually pick up show signs of uneasiness about having a woman drop them off, but by the end of the ride they would be showering me with words of encouragement.” Several female passengers she picks up have expressed interest in joining Uber as well. It is the positive feedback she receives that makes the daily stresses of Egypt’s streets tolerable.

Omar is a part-time Uber driver who enjoys driving and loves being hospitable. “I joined Uber because I thought it would be exciting to meet people of different ages and mentalities and to improve my communication skills.”

On staying safe, Ibrahim explains that she picks her working hours carefully. “From 7 to 11 in the morning, I usually get requests from serious commuters who are off to work. If I ever feel unsafe about the destination or if I do not trust the person I am picking up, I simply cancel the trip and inform the company.”

“Every trip I accept through Uber is not just a trip to drop off someone, but a new adventure. Every passenger carries a unique story. Teenagers in middle school and high school, for example, are usually very active and we joke and laugh a lot. With older passengers, we discuss politics, religion, the country’s economy, and so on,” says Omar.

These women have emphasized their content with working as Uber drivers in Cairo, which may come as a surprise to many locals, showing that they have the complete freedom to ensure that their work environment is a safe one, and is to some, very fulfilling.

During Omar’s early days with Uber, the requests were sometimes cancelled right after they were made. “I just assumed it was because I was a girl, but today the passengers I meet are usually very supportive and very encouraging of the idea. They would comment saying that I am changing the mindset of society,” she explains. “However, I am often asked if I have ever been harassed before, and so far my answer has been the same: my job is perfectly safe.” “I have a very unique job; you do not see the same people twice. I consider my passengers a part of my constantly changing team, so I never really get bored. If on any given day you meet a difficult client, you are bound to meet a nice client afterwards,” she mentions. On staying safe, Omar explains that she does not work at night. “I also have an agreement with my father, in which I would call him if anything went wrong and he would call me if I am ever late,” Omar adds. “Some of my passengers even feel relieved at the fact that I am a woman, like mothers requesting Uber for their kids.”

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Names have been changed upon the request of the interviewees. p

FEATURE

Carelle Homsy

By Rana Kamaly

The Egyptian Artist Who Won the Admiration of the Pope During Pope Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; latest visit to Egypt, he received an authentic and creative gift from one of Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest artists, Carelle Homsy, who provided him with a personal portrait that he loved, mentioning that it portrayed his true soul.

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omsy, who was born in Cairo in 1968, graduated from the Faculty of Arts in 1991 and worked as a graphic designer for a year while she prepared for her first exhibition. The artist found success in 1992 and left designing to follow her passion. Since then, Homsy has displayed her works in Cairo, London and Greece, and is currently a member of the Syndicate of Plastic Arts and the Atelier Group. “I started drawing very early in my life, and for as long as I can remember, I have always been painting. I won art competitions at a young age, and so choosing to further pursue this passion and not wanting any other career did not come as a surprise to my family,” she mentions. InspIratIon Homsy gets her inspiration from events and her surroundings. “In 2009, I created very significant paintings that foreshadowed the January revolution that people could not believe I painted beforehand.” According to the artist, painting is a state of mind. “Sometimes I feel very confused or depressed while painting, and at other times, I feel happy or excited, and all these emotions are reflected in my artwork,” she says. Homsy adds, “My paintings portray a specific point of view and allows my audience to contemplate on the meanings behind them. The background is just as important as the hero of the story, as they all reflect the detailed ideas I have that I transfer to the canvas, and they reflect the people, events and circumstances behind this ‘hero’.” “I never leave an empty spot on the canvas. Each space is a chance to say something,” she explains.

technIques and themes Oils are the artist’s go-to, but she also occasionally uses acrylic. “I love oils as they are made from very rich material and so last longer. Most of the famous artwork is created from these pigments, as there is a very low chance of them getting ruined. I have a 30-year old tube and it still works perfectly, and so I know that my paintings will live for centuries,” she says. Talent, practice and experience count the most when it comes to art, according to Homsy. “Everything I learned came from experience, practice and trial and error. I studied bits of everything but never went in-depth in any.” Homsy’s paintings come in different sizes, ranging from square works of 20 centimeters to 2 meters. “I love them to either be very small or very large as I love extremes. The smaller ones provide a sense of enjoyment, like Iranian and Indian artworks, as they are very detailed and require you to constantly find solutions in small spaces. The larger ones are also rewarding as they fill an area with colors and ideas,” she mentions. The painter’s artwork is diverse, but her pieces always revolve around expressionism and symbolism, as they are detailed with lots of brush strokes that provide a certain depth to them and gives the space to discuss many ideas. Her pieces also have political and cultural elements with a fantasia aspect.

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FEATURE Homsy explains, “At some point around 2006 and 2007, I was obsessed with using bold colors, which is called fauvism, and figurative art as I love to paint people. I have this peaceful war between me and the society because many people avoid painting figures for religious and political reasons, but I think it is very important as it is a way of putting life and energy into a piece of cloth.” Most of Homsy’s artwork relates to Egypt and its chaotic symbolism, with a spiritual aspect to it. “We are a cosmopolitan country, which helps make my paintings rich and diverse. Even though my origins are Italian, Syrian, Iranian and Armenian, I am a proud Egyptian with a rich cultural background. Egypt is an incredible country and I try to document this through my work.” Challenges “This career is challenging at times, as you have to let your soul be free to create unique pieces, but you also have to stay realistic. You have to stay on top and keep the standard high to keep moving. My exhibitions are limited as I am a perfectionist and I have to be 100% satisfied. I always have to make sure that I would still be proud of that piece of work years from now,” she says. Homsy’s challenges began after she had her children as it was very hard to balance raising them with her profession, and so she decided to dedicate all her time and energy to her children until they were old enough, before returning to art. Painting the PoPe The Pope’s painting was one of the most life-altering pieces of art Homsy has drawn. An important Egyptian entity contacted her and asked her to paint a portrait of the Pope as they wanted to provide him with a gift, but things fell apart later on. Homsy nonetheless was excited about it and insisted on finishing the portrait before contacting the Vatican’s ambassador to inform him in the hopes of meeting the Pope and giving it to him herself. The next day, she received a call and was told to send the artwork and to prepare herself for meeting him. “It was a dream,” she recalls. “I could not stop crying, but he found it humorous and was very kind. He thanked me a lot and said he loved it, and all I could say throughout my short meeting with him was, ‘please pray for Egypt and the sick.’” homsy on egyPt’s art sCene In the eyes of Homsy, the art scene in Egypt is booming. “Artists are very enthusiastic, hardworking and creative nowadays. Even though the current situation is tough, we are fighting to keep going. However, we need more people to start appreciating art, as most of the exhibitions are attended by artists, critics, collectors and people in the business, rather than visitors who come solely to enjoy witnessing beautiful pieces of art.” “I believe that this is the role of education. We need to educate our children to appreciate art and know how important it is, because at the end of the day, it is how we discover previous cultures.” p

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COMMUNITY Entrepreneur

Khan Fokhar

The All-Egyptian Pottery Brand By Basma Mostafa

hen Dalia El Kady, co-founder of Khan Fokhar, noticed that the original pharaonic art of pottery-making no longer had strong roots in the Egyptian culture, she was keen on re-introducing it into the market. “Our knowledge about this art as Egyptians is limited to the “kolla” we buy from vendors on the street. We know Tunisian, Moroccan and Turkish pottery, but we do not fully understand that the hands of Egyptian artists are just as capable of creating equally beautiful products, and that is how Khan Fokhar was born,” explains El Kady.

while her daughter studied mass communication, combining her work as a media developer with her work at Khan Fokhar. El Kady infuses her work at Pléverre, a company that specializes in the design and production of plexiglass, with Khan Fokhar.

“It did not make any sense to me that pottery was, in essence, a pharaonic art, and that today we rarely produce it, while other cultures have adopted and developed it. We also wanted to introduce the idea that you could own practical products fit for everyday use, but that also had an artistic twist.”

The first thing El Kady’s family did before starting Khan Fokhar was study the market. “We would take our designs and try to find a pottery maker who would execute it for us, but all our attempts were unsuccessful as none of them delivered a finished product on time, until we met the artist we are currently working with, Mohammed El Gendy, the son of famous artist Samir El Gendy, and we formed a collaboration where our products are basically a mix of our own and El Gendy’s designs,” El Kady recounts.

“Many people fail to appreciate the artistic value of handicrafts, especially those made in Egypt. Whenever I visit an exhibition abroad, I get the impression that people feel that just because something is made in Egypt, it must be of low quality and thus should cost little money, and this is what I want to change. I aim to make people associate high-quality pottery with Egypt,” she adds.

How KHan FoKHar Started

El Kady jump-started her project alongside her brother, Muhammad, and daughter Menna, both of whom also have a deep-rooted passion for transforming Egyptian handicrafts into something great. Both El Kady and her brother studied business,

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“Growing up, I witnessed firsthand how my uncle would take simple items lying around the house and turn them into beautiful pieces of art. He had a very artistic eye and he was the reason why I try to find the beauty in things. I always wonder, for example, why almost all people in Cairo never place flowers in their balconies, although with weather like ours, there really is nothing easier than growing your own flowers,” El Kady says.

As for the choice of the name, El Kady explains that Khan refers to “shop” or “place.” “The name had to be Egyptian, and I had to use the word ‘Fokhar’ (Arabic for pottery) to express the core of what we are doing. I did not want to choose a foreign name like most businesses nowadays do, and I wanted people to say ‘Fokhar’ and not ‘pottery’. I also love Khan El Khalili; it is a place that I feel perfectly captures the Egyptian culture, and this is where ‘Khan Fokhar’ came from.”

The Process of Pottery Making

Pottery, she explains, is just like humans—created from earth. “We start the design process on the wheel, which is where you get to experiment with the shape and design. Whenever I suggest a design, I am usually inspired by colors, nature and the season we are in.” “Once the design is ready, you have to allow the clay to dry for three or four days, and sometimes more depending on the temperature. It is then placed inside a special oven to go through the biscuit firing. At this point, it completely dries out and we start the drawing or coloring process, before adding the glaze and returning the piece to the oven for the last firing. A few days later, the final product is ready. The whole process takes anywhere between 10 to 15 days,” El Kadi mentions. The entire experience is a mixture between enjoyment and challenge. “Creating a piece of pottery proves that anything I can imagine can be brought to life, and I find happiness when I play around with ideas and colors. With pottery, you should always expect the unexpected and be ready for a surprise, which reminds me of a child receiving a present,” she says. “However, accidents do happen. Pottery is man-made and so it is prone to mistakes and inconsistencies. “Sometimes items break inside the oven and sometimes the color does not turn out exactly as expected, and so we have to redo the work from scratch while trying to deliver the products to our clients on time. We live in a world where almost everything we own is manufactured by machines, a world that does not understand that handmade art cannot be perfect. It proves to be difficult to explain to our clients that pottery products are like nonidentical twins. If a client, for example, requests four plates, it is virtually impossible for all four of them to be the exact same size and color. We try to help our clients see the beauty of human inconsistencies,” she adds. Despite difficulties, El Kady insists that, with every single project, she eagerly awaits the end result. “It is like you are holding your breath to see your very own personal print.” She also explains that they have recently started burning their pottery products through the pit firing technique. “It is something that most Egyptians know little about. I was not familiar with it until I started working with our artist and reading more about pottery making. What you do is wrap the piece, bury it in a hole in the ground that is filled with wood shavings or sand, and you burn it. You get to witness the natural influences of the earth on your pottery and the results are mesmerizing.”

The Future of Khan Fokhar

El Kady hopes to introduce the concept of using pottery cookware as a healthy alternative to traditional pots and pans to every household in Egypt and the region, which not only would look artistic, but that would also add a distinctive flavor to food. “I want people all over the world to recognize the name Khan Fokhar and to have the non-Egyptian eye admire our handicrafts and have confidence in it,” El Kady notes. “I also hope people would appreciate the personal effort the artist puts into each one of his pieces. I want to change the mindset of people; handicrafts are unique because they are manufactured by hand, and that should never undermine their value,” she concludes. p

Education

Author Educates Children through Music, Literature and Poetry By Rehab Saad

Music was always his main inspiration behind writing for children, so Girgis built a creative musical system that brought together music, literature and poetry.

azih Girgis, a story-teller, author and publisher, thrives to raise awareness to children on important issues like perserving the environment, road safety, water resources conservation, traffic laws, health and the effects of obesity.

Music was always his main inspiration behind writing for children, so Girgis built a creative musical system that brought together music, literature and poetry, in which the flute was represented by a cat, the drums by fishermen and the violin by a donkey, along with other musical instruments and their depictions. This then led to developing an interactive educational and entertainment program called “Children’s Integrated Cultural and Awareness Program” in both Arabic and English. Girgis, who studied music history and music appreciation, is the founder and chairman of US-Mid-East Music and Fine Arts Council that was developed in 1998. He is also currently the director of Self-Employed and the president of Edu-Stories Publishing L.L.C. The author’s books were written and published in Arabic, English, Spanish and Aprikans, and had a great impact on children with disabilties and those living in poverty. He then transformed several of his pieces into ballet shows that participated in international festivals in Syria and Johannesburg, and released them as cassette tapes and CDs. He is widely applauded by the media both in the Arab World and the United States, where he has conducted more than 1,200

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workshops and reading sessions. In Egypt, he received top prizes in major children’s literature competitions like the Suzan Mubarak Prize for Children’s Literature in 2001 for his books “Peter and the Wolf”, “Carnivals of Animals” and “Queen Waters”. He also received a note of recognition from President Obama and his wife on his book “The Dolphin Park”. Girgis also teamed up with multi-national corporations, such as Shell Egypt, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, (USAID), (DANIDA) and the Egyptian Ministry of Education, as well as many other NGOs and educational institutes. We talked with Nazih Girgis to find out more about his programs, workshops and future projects. How did you come up witH tHe idea of relating storytelling and music to educate cHildren? I believe that music is an educational tool and a successful method of communication that has the ability to be understood internationally, and can be used as a medium to uplift people and help unite different populations. Actually, I used to conduct workshops for street children, where I immediately began to witness a change in their behavior: before the workshops, they used to be unsocial and uncooperative, however, afterwards, they became more sympathetic and interactive. I received an appreciation letter from one of the children in Sayeda who used to attend my workshops, and the letter was the best certificate I have ever received, as it shows how deep of an impact music, and my workshops, can have.

What do you believe is your role in the development of children living in poverty who are deprived of their right to receive a proper education? I conducted several workshops for children with disabilities and children living in Upper Egypt and in villages. I remember after the end of one of the workshops, a child with a disability tried to kiss my hands but it looked as if he was biting me, so the supervisor yelled at him, after which I informed him that the child is trying to express his happiness and gratitude, and that he should be more understanding to the situation. During another workshop that took place in a school village that some governmental bodies attended, there was food and beverages being served to the officials, which I rejected for the sake of avoiding making the children feel upset and deprived of such things. How did you manage to grab children’s attention from different parts of the world? My translation into Arabic of the fairytale “Peter and the Wolf”, originally Sergei Prokofiev’s masterpiece, introduces music appreciation and education, with an introduction by the late Oleg Prokofiev. The book is now a part of the collection of The Prokofiev Museum at Columbia University, The Russian State Archive of Literature and Art and The Prokofiev Museum in Moscow. I also presented this piece for the first time at the music hall of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington in 1990, and then with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra at the American University’s Ewart Hall under the direction of Maestro Mustafa Nagy. “Carnival of Animals”, a narration for Camille Saint-Saens’ masterpiece, aimed at educating children on the environment, in which I used imagination to support the theme, where different animals in the zoo all played a part in being eco-friendly. Throughout the play, all the musical instruments combine in harmony to give the child the opportunity to fully enjoy and learn. The story is not only humerous and joyful, but there are some lessons introduced subtly, which is easily absorbed by children. The first lesson taught to them was that if they want something to be done, they should start with themselves, and the significance of teamwork is also reflected throughout. Recycling and sound pollution are also brought to light through musical instruments.

“Queen Waters”, a poem in which water is portrayed as a queen that has four daughters: Rivers, Oceans, Wells and Rain, was presented during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002, as well as at the Ministry of Irrigation in Egypt. In all my stories, I usually provide important messages, like in “The Dolphin Park”, which discusses the negative impact of eating unhealthy junk food and soft drinks. I also cover the topic of traffic in “STOP and Learn from Dr. Wise, the Elephant”. The book helps children to understand the importance of maintaining safety on the road and the risk of speeding and using phones while driving. The story focuses on how we, as diverse humans, should live in one united community. The book was translated into English, Spanish and Aprikans, and I attended a Safety Summit in Africa where I was asked to send copies of the book to them. Why do you not utilize your storytelling techniques by presenting a TV program for children? I do not mind spending my whole life for the sake of children, but I do not like showing up on TV programs, unless the program deals directly with them. If you were the Minster of Education, what is the first action you would take? Build more schools to make the capacity of a classroom a maximum of 30 students, as well as make sure that every school includes music and art education. I would also cancel religious classes that I believe should be taken privately, as well as cancelling all examinations for the elementary levels. Did you think about presenting your stories in the form of cartoons, to be presented on Egyptian TV? Actually, I have already started producing my stories in the form of animations and I am not keen to make money as much as I am keen to provide children with the correct learning atmosphere. What are your future plans? I am currently analyzing several projects, but as my passion lies with Syrian children who I really admire and sympathize with, my next step would include planning workshops for them and sending books to them in cooperation with UNICEF. p

I believe that music is an educational tool and a successful method of communication that has the ability to be understood internationally. jul/AUG 2017 | Ct

Real People

Al HAg Al DAwy:

A Video Maker from Upper Egypt

By Zeinab Abul Gheit

The Upper Egyptian Al Hag Al Dawy has become a popular video maker in Egypt, casting light on the defects of our society in a sarcastic way and portraying the sublime values that are disappearing from our community.

hrough his distinct Upper Egyptian accent, which contradicts some of the English words he uses, and his spontaneous expressions, Al Dawy gained overwhelming admiration from millions of spectators.

His videos tackle issues that are not easily confronted by parents, schools, the media or officials, as he discusses topics like the deterioration of education, vengeance in Upper Egypt, traffic accidents and the growingly expensive pre-marriage traditions. Al Dawy, whose official name is Hamdi El Ghabri, was born in El Zeineiya city, north of Luxor. After graduating from the Industrial Secondary School, he worked in the tourism field for a while before turning to his passion of acting and video making that was evident during his preparatory stages of education. Sarcastic scenes in his videos highlight the contrasting differences among different segments of the Egyptian society and their encounters with each other in comic skits. Al Dawy

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says, “I have the luxury of wearing the most expensive suits, but I usually choose to wear the Galabiya and Luxor’s ‘Emma’, Upper Egypt’s head dress, out of respect to my homeland as these clothing items reflect our identity.” We talked with Al Hag Dawy to find out more about what he does, how he started and what he aims to achieve. Why have you chosen the title of al hag al DaWy? I chose this name in honor of my neighbor Al Dawy who is a respectable man with strong principles and whose character would be a good role model for the youth to follow after watching my videos. When DiD your interest in film making begin anD What is the aim behinD your viDeos? The idea came by chance. It started when I posted a dialogue between an Upper Egyptian woman and her husband criticizing customs and traditions in a sarcastic manner on Facebook.

I then received overwhelming admiration by numerous readers commenting on the dialogue, which encouraged me to turn my work into videos. The aim behind what I create is to discuss social issues in a satirical way to help shed some light and perhaps even solve these concerns. At the same time, I want to encourage the spirit of gaiety among my followers. What Was the idea behind your first video and the reasons behind your overWhelming success? The idea was to encourage the youth to work. I wanted to convey to them that they should not expect to fulfill their dreams right away, but that they have to struggle and accept any type of work first in order to achieve experience and then pursue their dreams. After uploading that first video on the portal page of Upper Egypt on Facebook, I was surprised when an Egyptian working in Dubai called me to tell me that a million viewers watched the video. This gave me the drive to continue forward. People admired the personality of Al Hag Al Dawy, and the issues I tackle in my videos are of great concern to the simple Egyptian citizen and the Upper Egyptian people in particular, so probably these were the reasons for my success. What values have you gained from being brought up in upper egypt? I was taught how to respect others and to be honest and gallant. This benefited me a lot when I went to Europe where I was taught to respect time, love my work and to respect women. are there any signs shoWing that your videos are changing the behavior in our society? Yes, fortunately many children have come up to me to tell me that, from my videos, they have learned not to lie or be hypocritical, to respect the elderly and their teachers and to love their country. What other projects are you involved in noW and What future projects do you have in mind? At the moment, I participate in supporting Al Orman Hospital for curing tumor diseases for free. In my videos, I also provide awareness on the dangers of Virus C, and I have already put together a documentary on the centers that treat this disease.

I also started a campaign titled “Your Old Clothes are Valuable”, which aims to collect 10,000 items of clothing to be donated to those in need. Participating in art works is also a dream of mine that was suppressed during my permanent stay in Upper Egypt, as traveling between there and Cairo proves a little difficult. So I am aiming to establish a theater that I would name Al Dawy Show in Upper Egypt. However, I have to look for a producer and investor because I can’t bear the high costs of this big project alone. However, serious steps are being taken towards this project, where my team will include talented small people who will bring happiness to the viewers by playing a great role in Upper Egypt’s theater where I want to reflect the significance of the handicapped in our society. Currently, I stay in Egypt for nine months, and then I travel to Europe during the remaining three months of the year to visit my brothers who are living in Sweden and France, and my wife who carries the Finnish nationality. In the near future, I want to present my work throughout the Arab World. What are your hopes for egypt and upper egypt in particular? I aspire for Egypt to become one of the advanced nations, and to restore its international position. Regarding Upper Egypt, I believe that it has great industrial potential, which can encourage the youth to stay rather than traveling abroad in search of work in Europe and the Arab World. p

jul/Aug 2017 | Ct

Real People

The Journey of John Milad Advocating Change through Art Workshops By Hania Moheeb

When you search for the development advocate John Milad on Facebook, you will find him under the name John Milad Insan, the last name a synonym for “human being”. The artist who started out working in media campaigns transformed his life mission into a unique development model over many years, whereby he lends a helping hand to thousands of traumatized people.

ilad, who studied graphic design at the Faculty of Applied Arts, went a long way in the world of advertising and became a creative director in just a few years, before using his passion for the arts to induce change in society.

Change through Performing arts

During university, he picked up theater, which drew him to the world of performing arts, and after graduation, he founded his theater troupe “W Lessa” (There is yet to come) in 2002. The troupe found success and won a number of prizes, but for a group with ambition and a drive for change, the impact their performances had on the limited viewers was not fulfilling enough, as Milad dreamt of extending his impact to larger and more diverse audiences. “I studied the importance of color and its impact on people as far as moral messages are concerned. Then I left the world of advertising after working on important campaigns to work on the model where theater and art can rehabilitate people and turn into a profound educational tool for youth and children, while impacting their conduct and morals to encourage personal growth,” says Milad. In 2008, “W Lessa” started experimenting with dance, music and plastic arts in addition to theater to become more of an “art initiative”. However, the model that Milad’s advocacy adopts did not develop overnight, but rather he, together with his troupe, experimented through workshops and performances for years to come up with such a working model.

theraPies and WorkshoPs

“We started to work on psychodrama and art therapy, developing my own customized model. I focused on resolving the problems that result from the attachment of the trainees to the facilitator, which in most cases, the workshop trainees, after facing their

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trauma, go back to the vicious cycle of violation and stay there. This is very difficult for them to handle on their own, so they keep resorting to the trainer, which is why my model relies on discovering the personal inner strength: you will drive, you are the leader and you will carry on on your own,” explains Milad. Over the years, “W Lessa” presented many plays and conducted tens of workshops to very diverse audiences. The troupe’s focus was to work in the most deprived communities where the participants ranged from street children, youth, victims of rape and violence, refugees, to drivers and home workers. However, Milad and the troupe are most famous for advocating women’s rights. Within a program titled “Safe Cities” that’s aim is to create harassment free cities for women, he conducted workshops for Toktok drivers. “Of course, I did not start out with this message, but on the contrary, I gave them space to express themselves and to speak of the violations and injustice that they face. After acknowledging that, I began bringing up the issues of violence against women,” expresses Milad. After weeks of work with them, Milad was surprised to receive a gift from the wife of one of the drivers, who later called him to thank him personally and told him that her husband finally allowed their daughter to enroll in university and that he started showing signs of admiration. Other gestures showing gratitude came from very radical women, for example, a Syrain Salafi refugee told him after a workshop, “someone like you should be in the arms of the prophet.” Another niqabi woman, wife of a sheikh, invited him to attend the sobou’ (seventh day celebration) of her newly born, whom she surprisingly called “Sandra” after a young member of “W Lessa”. This particular woman at the beginning of the workshop refused to look at Milad or speak to him because he is a Christian male.

“They feel comfortable with me because I have transcended the religious conflict,” he explains. However, a surprising fact he found out was that triggering change and conduct with the lower socioeconomic classes is much easier than with the higher ones. “Money and social status adds boundaries for people and the cost of change for them is quite high,” he mentions.

Acknowledgements

Milad further explains his model, saying, “My approach involves three stages, which include providing a safe space so people can tell their stories, face their fears and then express themselves through art, and this is where change begins.”

“John is the future,” is what former US president Barack Obama said to describe Milad in a ceremony on the sidelines of the UN summit in 2014, held shortly after the swearing in of president Abdel Fatah El Sisi. “I was attending a meeting of 35 leaders from all over the world, when I was approached by the Clinton Global Initiative to be part of their yearly celebration to honor artists and leaders of change. The greater surprise was being selected to meet president Obama and to be introduced by him in the celebration,” Milad expressed.

He resorts to different forms of expression depending on the participants and the time frame of the workshop, including clay, sketching, dancing, singing, acting and graffiti. Although Milad’s main aim is to help people use art as a form of expression, he occasionally meets participants who produce creative pieces. “During one of my clay workshops, I asked them to make sculptures that represented themselves, and most of them surprised me with very real and beautiful figures,” he mentions. When asked about who funds his workshops and plays, Milad explained that some of the projects that take place in Cairo receive funding from international organizations like Oxfam and UNICEF, while other activities that are carried out outside of Cairo are mainly by the troupe or by the local community and NGOs. “When we work with local NGOs, we do not charge them anything, but we ask them to provide accommodation and material,” adds Milad.

This unique development model not only provided amazing results with thousands of people over the years, but it also grabbed the attention of numerous international organizations, universities and research centers who acknowledged Milad’s model as something worth studying.

This performer and life-changer tours all governorates in Egypt conducting workshops and inducing change. He receives gifts and prayers from modest people to whom he gave a helping hand, and was acknowledged by worldwide figures, yet occasionally during his performances, the curtains are drawn abruptly because some think that his work is too bold and can distort peace in society. p

My approach involves three stages, which include providing a safe space so people can tell their stories, face their fears and then express themselves through art, and this is where change starts. jul/Aug 2017 | Ct

DESTINATIONS Travel

Cosmopolitan montréal By Ola El Soueni

ast February, a business trip took me to one of Canada’s largest and most vibrant cities: Montréal. In spite of my white winter fears since I was traveling during one of the coldest months there, I was still excited to go and explore a new city. I booked my flight on Lufthansa Airlines, where I transited in Munich before taking a direct flight to Montréal. After arriving late at night and collecting my luggage, I took the airport shuttle to my hotel, which I would highly recommend as it is only 10 Canadian Dollars, making it cheaper than taxis and Uber and it is available every 15 minutes.

AccommodAtion

Many of my colleagues recommended Travelodge Montréal; a hotel located downtown, which was very affordable given its proximity to most of the landmarks and activities. For a bed and breakfast basis, the room was neat, clean and well equipped, but not very spacious, and the quality of the continental breakfast was satisfactory. A large chain supermarket that was open until late was located across the street from the hotel, which was very convenient for me, since I could grab fresh meals when I get back after a long day of work.

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Travelodge is just a few steps away from the “Place des Arts” complex and walking distance from the “Des Jardins” shopping mall, as well as Chinatown, Old Montréal, Saint Laurent Boulevard and Saint Catherine Street, which are popular for their boutiques.

SightSeeing

Montréal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, where their native language is French and its residents are very warm, friendly and eager to help you find your way around. There are endless activities to do and places to see in cosmopolitan Montréal, but as I unfortunately only had three days to spend there that were mostly spent working, I did not get a chance to visit everything. It is a very vibrant and picturesque city, and is almost always covered in snow, creating a very charming atmosphere. What caught my eye the most was the diversity of its different neighborhoods, especially in Old Montréal, which had cobblestoned pavements that reflected the French colonial style. The Bohemian buildings are also architecturally beautiful. The area has ample souvenir shops, bars, cafés and restaurants. When you are there, you have to stroll down the Old Port, which is the perfect place to clear your mind. Notre Dame Basilica, a very popular historical destination built in 1672, is located right in the center of Old Montréal. The church is decorated in great detail, reflecting the Gothic Revival style made up of blue, gold and stained glass windows. It is best to explore the area on foot to make sure you do not miss anything and so you can hop in and out of shops as well as enjoy the open-air space of “Place Jaques Cartier”.

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Travel

Saint Laurent Boulevard is also a place you should visit, where you can go window-shopping while being surrounded by an upbeat community. It is very close to Chinatown, which is another neighborhood with a lot to do and see. If you are lucky, you can catch a Celine Dion concert or a Cirque de Soleil show.

Shopping

I did a lot of souvenir shopping mainly from the boutique at the hotel’s reception, which had many original ornaments, as well as from souvenir shops in Old Montréal. I spent a couple of hours at “Des Jardins” shopping mall, since it was close to the hotel and it houses an interesting number of shops, including many international brands. Another popular shopping destination is Rue Saint Catherine; a busy street lined with department stores and every type of shop you can think of.

Eating out

Montréal has become a hub for delicious international cuisines with so many restaurants that cater to all tastes. Many of the signature dishes are deeply rooted in history and tradition, and so it is guaranteed that you will try something both mouth watering and unique.

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dishes. I was told that the maple season usually runs from the end of February until the end of March, so I was in Montréal at the perfect time. One of the best desserts that I had there was the “Pouding Chomeur”, which means poor man’s pudding, and is made of flour, butter, milk and eggs smothered in maple syrup and served upside down. “Couche-Tard”, which literally translates to sleeping late, is a 24-hour convenient store found all over the city that serves fresh hot sandwiches, croissants, cookies, and coffee, in addition to anything that could be found in a grocery store, perfect for a late night bite.

Montréal-style smoked meat is a staple of the city. It is served on rye bread and drizzled with mustard with a side order of pickled cucumbers providing an iconic and tasteful combination. Smoked meat is served at most, if not all, of the restaurants in the city.

The diverse city of Montréal proved to be a very welcoming travel destination that I am planning to revisit very soon, as it houses many interesting landmarks, amidst a friendly community and a vibrant lifestyle. p

Another signature dish is Poutine, which is basically French fries topped with cheese and covered in brown gravy. Many restaurants serve this with a huge variety of toppings, and I had mine with smoked meat and it was nothing but heavenly and the perfect end to a long and freezing day. You can’t be in Canada and not have pancakes with maple syrup, as 72% of the world’s maple syrup is produced in the province of Quebec, and it is called Quebec’s liquid gold since it is a culinary staple for many traditional

JUL/AUG 2017 | Ct

Cuisine

light & refreshing Summer recipeS

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Sparkling Blueberry Lemonade IngredIents: • • • • • • •

¼ cup white sugar ¼ cup water 1½ cups fresh blueberries 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 cups ice cubes 3 cups sparkling water or club soda

dIrectIons: 1. Combine the sugar, water, blueberries and lemon zest in a saucepan. 2. Bring to a boil over medium heat and then simmer for 5 to 10 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved and the blueberries are starting to burst. 3. Remove from the heat and pass through a fine sieve. 4. Let this blueberry syrup completely cool. 5. In a large blender, add the blueberry syrup, lemon juice and ice. Blend until smooth. 6. Stir in the sparkling water or club soda. p

Watermelon Cooler IngredIents: • • • • • •

4 to 5 cups of seedless watermelon, cut into chunks ½ peeled cucumber, cut into chunks 8 mint leaves, roughly chopped 3 tablespoons of sugar 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice Pinch of salt

dIrectIons: 1. Place all the ingredients in a blender, and process until smooth. 2. Pour the mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing the solids with a spoon to get all the liquid out. 3. Place the watermelon mixture back in the blender and add the ice cubes. 4. Depending on how slushy you want it, add your ice cubes accordingly. p jul/aug May 2017 | Ct

Cuisine

Shrimp Cocktail Salad IngredIents: • • • • • • • • • •

4 large tomatoes ½ a lettuce, chopped ¼ cup thousand island sauce (mix together mayonnaise and ketchup) 2 teaspoons brown sugar 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco) Salt and pepper 4 stalk celery ½ kilogram cooked, shelled and deveined jumbo shrimp 1 tablespoon vegetable or sunflower oil

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dIrectIons: 1. Holding 1 tomato slice over a sieve, scoop seeds into the sieve. Repeat with remaining slices. Press seeds in the sieve to extract as much juice as possible, and then discard the seeds. 2. Divide tomato slices among 4 serving plates. 3. To prepare the dressing, whisk in a bowl the tomato juice, thousand island sauce, brown sugar, oil, lemon juice, hot sauce and a pinch of salt and pepper until sugar dissolves. 4. To serve, arrange the lettuce, celery slices then shrimp over sliced tomatoes. 5. Stir dressing to blend, then drizzle all over shrimp, celery and tomatoes. 6. Garnish with celery leaves. p

Sour Cream and Dill Potato Salad IngredIents: • • • • • • •

½ kilogram potatoes, peeled ½ cup diced cucumbers 2 tablespoons sour cream 1½ tablespoons plain Greek yogurt 1½ teaspoons chopped fresh dill ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper

dIrectIons: • • •

• •

Place a saucepan filled two-thirds with water over a high heat. Cut potatoes into 1-inch pieces. Add potatoes to pan, and then cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-high; cook 5 minutes or until tender and then drain. Combine cucumber, sour cream, yogurt, dill, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add drained potatoes to the cucumber mixture, and toss gently to coat. p

TomatoEggplant Tarts IngredIents: • • • • • • • •

8 thick slices of rustic Italian bread 1 large clove garlic, peeled 4 tablespoons olive oil 3 eggplants, thinly sliced Salt 1 cup shredded mozzarella 4 tomatoes, thinly sliced ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

•

Basil, for garnish

dIrectIons: 1. Heat grill to medium. 2. Grill the rustic Italian bread for 5 minutes, or until well toasted, turning once. 3. Transfer to a large platter, then rub the bread lightly with garlic, and then drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. 4. Toss eggplants with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with salt. 5. Grill for 5 minutes, then turn slices over and top with mozzarella, and grill for an additional

5 minutes or until the cheese melts. p jul/aug 2017 | Ct

Cuisine

Vegetarian Summer Pasta IngredIents:

•

¼ kilogram uncooked linguine ¼ kilogram zucchini ½ kilogram tomatoes, finely chopped ¾ cup red onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon sugar ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs, toasted 8 small basil leaves

•

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• • • • • • • • • • •

dIrectIons: 1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain. 2. While the pasta cooks, shave zucchini into thin ribbons using a vegetable peeler; place in a large bowl. 3. Add tomatoes, onions, olive oil, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper to a bowl and then toss to combine. Let it stand for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to coat. 4. Add pasta to vegetables, tossing gently to combine. Top with breadcrumbs, basil

and cheese. p

Ct | jul/aug 2017

Peach Melba IngredIents: • • • • • • • • •

3 cups water 3½ cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoons lemon juice 8 peaches 1 large tub of vanilla ice Sauce 3 cups raspberries ¼ cup powdered sugar

•

1 tablespoon lemon juice

dIrectIons: 1. Put the water, sugar, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and vanilla into a saucepan and heat gently to dissolve the sugar. 2. Bring to a boil and leave it for about 5 minutes, then turn the heat down to a simmer. 3. Cut the peaches in half and remove the seeds, then poach them in the sugar syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side until soft, then remove. 4. Peel off their skins and let them cool. 5. To make the raspberry sauce, liquidize the raspberries, powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a blender. 6. Sieve to remove the pits and pour the puree into a jug. 7. To assemble, allow 2 peach halves per person and sit them on each plate alongside a scoop of ice cream. 8. Spoon the raspberry sauce over each. p

Warm Berries with Honey and Yogurt

IngredIents: • • • • • • •

1 cup blueberries, divided 1 cup raspberries, divided 1 cup blackberries, divided 6 tablespoons honey 4 large basil leaves, torn 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups Greek yogurt or whipping cream

•

6 small basil sprig s

dIrectIons: 1. Combine half of the berries and honey in a small saucepan over low heat and cook for 8 minutes or until slightly warmed, gently stirring occasionally. 2. Remove from heat, and then stir in basil leaves. 3. Combine vanilla and yogurt (or cream) in a small bowl, stirring well until thick. 4. Spoon about ¼ cup of the yogurt mixture into 6 glasses or small bowls. 5. Top each serving with about ¼ cup warm berry mixture, then with ¼ cup of he remaining fresh

berries and a basil sprig. p

jul/aug 2017 | Ct

Cuisine

THE FUSION OF TORII

was invited along with a large number of media personnel, influencers and tastemakers to try out Torii’s new menu at the Cairo Marriott Hotel.

Frankly, Sushi is not the first item on the menu that I would usually pick, so I went to see what else is being offered at this Japanese restaurant. Surprisingly, the variety of sushi rolls were so tasty that I feared if I have too much, I won’t be able to taste the rest of the menu. Dishes of palatable Japanese delicacies were being laid out on our tables, including crispy salmon Japanese tacos and the two creative salads, the Tako salad with octopus and shredded vegetables, pine nuts and fresh coriander, as well as the Quinoa Salad; a mix of quinoa, orange, and drizzled Torii’s special sauce. For those people who are not seafood eaters, you should try the Chicken Cashew dish, a Torii specialty, or the crunchy vegetable tempura variety. The main attraction that night was the live-action at the Teppanyaki station, where the chef lit up the restaurant with a big flame show that instantly had everyone standing around the chef and recording the mesmerizing moment. Guests then filled their plates with a freshly grilled variety of meats and seafood along with noodles served either fried, wheat or as Chinese egg noodles. The dessert was another of the chefs’ creative dishes, a caramelized banana sambousek along with sake and green tea. An experience you should not miss. Torii Restaurant, Cairo Marriott Hotel. Open 6 pm to midnight p

Ct | jul/aug 2017

Advertorial

toyota Unveils all-new fortUner with refineD style anD Comfort to aDD to its impressive off-roaD Capability

oyota announced the launch of the 2018 Fortuner in Egypt to unveil a second-generation model, which builds on its heritage of being a durable sport utility vehicle (SUV) with impressive off-road capabilities. With the new Fortuner, Toyota has focused on creating a more distinctive, sleek, and powerful design while improving performance and adding a wide variety of features to increase convenience, safety, and ride comfort. The all-new Fortuner is the outcome of continuous efforts to redefine toughness while offering customers powerful vehicles with drastically improved off-road capabilities. Furthermore, the design concept is rough but cool, with three bold, iconic lines. According to Takayuki Yoshitsugu, Chief Representative, Middle East and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, “The all-new Fortuner is a completely redesigned SUV that enhances driving confidence on every level.”

Compelling Design Toyota has created a new ‘Solid Fluidity’ design for the Fortuner, which expresses toughness and wideness through the high body axis, the bulging wheel arch flares, as well as the chunky trapezoidal front bumper. The large, slanted upper grille is framed by thick chrome plating that extends around the headlamps, while the trapezoidal front bumper creates a sense of depth. Slender headlight clusters are fused with the front fenders, as well as the sleek rear combination lamps and license plate garnish that blend with the complex surfaces of the rear body. The Fortuner is available with a choice of two petrol engines – a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 163 hp and 245 nm of torque, and a 4.0-liter V6 engine, which churns out 234 hp and 376 nm of torque. There are six exterior colors: Phantom Brown ME, Nebula Blue ME, Super White 2, Billet Silver, Attitude Black MC, and Gray ME.

exCellent Utility The interior exhibits the toughness of an SUV, tempered with the elegance of a premium sedan. A focal point of the dashboard is the soft simulated leather upholstery. The interior has stylish white ambient lighting, and is used throughout the interior of the vehicle. The car has automatic and rear front air-condition system imbedded at each seat of the 7 seats that can also be used to warm or chill drinks. It has a high-efficiency compressor, which decreases engine load and enhances cooling performance, contributing to excellent fuel economy performance.

Other innovative touches (model dependent) include a 7-inch tabletinspired multimedia touchscreen, a Smart Entry & Start system, an electronic 4WD switch, and second-row seats with one-touch operation for ease of folding. The third-row seats are equipped with a fixed hook attachment for simple and convenient storage. Smartphones and portable media devices can be used freely with the Auxiliary and USB ports near the console. The Fortuner also has a 6-speaker specialized audio equalizer. The Fortuner has a 4.2-inch (Thin Film Transistor) TFT-type MultiInformation Display and Cruise Control Bluetooth. It shows driving information, Eco Drive Indicator, idling-stop time, and an audio operation function. An entertainment display function is also provided. The vehicle is also equipped with a power back door system that can be opened and closed electronically with a switch.

oUtstanDing Driving performanCe The Fortuner has a 6-speed automatic transmission, which maximizes engine potential and multi-stage gears optimized to improve drive force in the low-speed range, a newly developed frame structure with rigidity, delivering exceptional toughness in the harshest environment, an all-new frame has been strengthened by cross members, side rails, and suspension towers. PWR mode provides sharper acceleration response. The steering wheel has a tilt-and-telescopic steering column. A paddle shift allows gear changes without releasing the wheel for a sporty drive. The Fortuner is fitted with newly developed 17-inch all-terrain tires, which boast high running performance. The new tread pattern takes into consideration noise reduction on paved roads and fuel economy performance.

aDvanCeD safety teChnology The Fortuner is equipped with comprehensive safety systems. These include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), which helps suppress vehicle lateral skidding. In addition to Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TSC) and HAC Control. The Fortuner comes with the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) for the front seats along with a knee airbag for the driver. After five years of maintaining the same design, Toyota and its team have completely renovated the Fortuner, coming up with an innovative new generation model.

CALENDAR J U l /AUG July 22nd

2017

Music

Bahiyya Band – Cairo Jazz Club Performing their traditional oriental revolutionary tunes, Bahiyya band will make you reminisce on Egyptian folklore while enjoying their energetic performance.

July 21st

Omar Khairat Concert

Music

Cairo Jazz Club 197, 26th July Street, Agouza Tel: 02 33459939 Time: 10 pm

Legendary soloist Omar Khairat will entertain the crowd with his piano masterpieces. RMC Theater KM 120 North Coast Road Doors open at 8:30 pm Tickets available at ticketsmarche

July 19th – AuGust 19th

Workshops

Pottery for Beginners Hosted on Saturdays, this educational workshop teaches the basic skills behind pottery making, with each participant creating between 8 to 12 pieces.

Egyptian Center for Culture & Arts – Makan

Music

Every Tuesday (one of those groups): • “Mawawil” with Gamalat Shiha. • Nubian Fadeka music and songs with “Aragid Group” and Farah El Masry. • “Al Jaafra Music”: Arab Tribes from Aswan. • “Sefsafa Band”: an independent music project that includes five musicians who express the result of reggae entrenched music in Alexandria. Every Wednesday: • “Mazaher”: Zar music and songs.

Darb 1718, Kasr el Sham3 Street, Al Fakhareen Tel: 0122 468 4628 From 10 am to 12 pm Fees: 1,350 EGP

July 27th

Music

the Gypsy Jazz Project

Tea and Karkade are served.

The Gypsy Jazz Project is presenting a mix between up-swinging and waltz style music that is influenced by the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.

1 Saad Zaghloul Street, 11461, El Dawaween, Cairo Tel: 00202 27920878 Performances are from 8 pm Doors open at 7:30 pm

Room Art Space 10 Etehaad Al Mohamin, Qasr el Nile Doors open at 8:30 pm Tickets available at e7gezly

Ct | JUL/AUG 2017

FilM

July 30th

“A Present from the Past” Screening Movie Director: Kawthar Younis Year of Production: 2015 Darb 1718 hosts a screening program curated by Zawya Cinema, which includes films by local filmmakers or films that shed light on local issues. July 2nd – 24th

Workshops

Mokhtar, a filmmaking professor, receives an unexpected gift on his 75th birthday from his daughter Kawthar, a filmmaker in her early twenties. With two plane tickets to Rome, he has a second chance to search for his unfulfilled love, who he abandoned 33 years ago.

Print Making for Children In this workshop, children will learn the process of printing and the creation of images using different materials, textures, colors (basic theory of color) and learning the final step of inking. Darb 1718, Kasr el Sham3 Street Al Fakhareen Tel: 0122 468 4628 From 4 pm to 6 pm Fees: 1,200 EGP

Filmed with hidden cameras and family home videos, Kawthar freely captures the real essence of this father/daughter relationship. Darb 1718, Kasr el Sham3 Street, Al Fakhareen Tel: 0122 468 4628 Free Entrance 8:30 pm

Music

July 20th

Shereen Abdo Artist Shereen Abdo will perform a mixture of songs that range from blues to rock. Room Art Space 10 Etehaad Al Mohamin, Qasr el Nile Doors open at 8:30 pm Tickets are available at e7gezly

Music

July 20th EvEry SAturdAy

Workshops

Cinematography Workshop Learn all the techniques for lighting, formatting and which camera to use when in this cinematography workshop by Mohamed Abdel Raaouf. Cima Rostom Street, Second Floor Time: 1 to 6 pm

Massar Egbari – Bibiotheca Alexandrina Originating in Alexandria, the band Massar Egbari who launched in 2005 will be performing their music that combines rock, jazz and oriental tunes. The band’s members include Ayman Massoud, Hani El Dakkak, Ahmed Hafez and Mahmoud Siam. Bibliotheca Alexandrina Port Said St. El Shatby. Alexandria Tel: 03 4839999 Time: 8:30 pm

JUL/AUG 2017 | Ct

CALENDAR J U l /AUG

2017

exhibition

auguSt 26th – 28th

China homelife Egypt China is taking over many industries, and this exhibition brings forward different textile products, appliances, furniture and building material made in the country.

EvEry tuESday

special event

Boards Kingdom – game night

Cairo International Convention Centre El Nasr Road, Nasr City Tel: 02 22537783

A night of board and card games like Monopoly, Pictionary, Cluedo, Uno and Risk with friends and family is guaranteed to be a nostalgic, fun-filled night. Bab 18 Art Space 2 Khartoum Street, Heliopolis Tel: 01118495030 Time: 7 pm to 11 pm

Workshops

July 3rd – auguSt 28th

Contemporary art for Children A painting and collage workshop where each child will learn the basics and techniques of drawing, colors and painting. Darb 1718, Kasr el Sham3 Street, Al Fakhareen. Tel: 0122 468 4628 From 10 am to 6 pm Fees for one day workshop: 90 EGP

auguSt 17th – 19th

special event

Cairo International Wedding Show “Le Mariage” Cairo International Wedding Show’s third event is the place to go for everyone tying the knot soon. From makeup artists, beauty salons and medical care agencies to furniture, photographers and wedding planners, everything engaged couples need are all available in one place. Grand Nile Tower, Garden City

July 15th – auguSt 15th

Workshops

Print Making for adults

EvEry Saturday and Monday

A workshop concerned with teaching the applied arts of printing and dying for the different types of textiles. The arts can be applied in the industrial and artificial fields.

directing Workshop

Darb 1718, Kasr el Sham3 Street, Al Fakhareen Tel: 0122 468 4628 From 5 pm to 8 pm Fees: 1,500 EGP

Cima Rostom Street, Second Floor Time: 8:30 to 11:30 pm

Ct | JUL/AUG 2017

Workshops

Learn all about directing in this workshop by Amir Ramses.

Advertorial

Huawei Team up with Photographer Abdel Rahman Gabr-Koree and Fashion Designer Norine Farah to give us a Stunning Series of Portrait photos taken by Huawei P10 plus

n another one of their much anticipated affiliations, Huawei teamed up with photographer and filmmaker Abdel Rahman Gabr-koree and fashion designer Norine Farah to produce a stunning series of photographs using the Huawei P10 plus. Koree’s biggest challenge was to produce images with very high quality to be used in Huawei’s campaign, and the P10 plus camera quality proved just that!

The entire shoot was taken using Huawei P10 plus with the second generation Lieca Dual Lens Camera. Each photography series mimics the stunning colors of the new smartphones which are gold, black and blue. In addition, the scenery was set amidst gorgeous and monumental areas around Cairo. Koree chose to apply three main features of P10 Plus camera that are truly exceptional in terms of quality and innovation; Night Mode, Portrait Mode, and Monochrome. “I thought it would be a challenge to have an entire photoshoot using a smartphone camera but I was actually surprised how the camera handled different modes exceptionally well. For example, the night mode takes multiple exposures and blends it automatically, perfecting the picture with one click of a button,” explained Koree Designer Norine Farah was impressed with the photoshoots final results: “It was a great experience designing garments to reflect the aesthetic design and beautiful colors of Huawei P10 and P10 Plus,” said Farah. “Having worked with Huawei before on previous P series devices, I was determined to design gowns with many small details because I was confident they will stand with the great camera quality, which is exactly what happened,” added Farah. “The photoshoot, in my opinion, was a great success displaying professional and quality images. We chose locations to represent the three vibrant colors of Gold, Blue and Black, seamlessly displaying the beauty and intensity of the golden ornaments in al Moez Street, the clarity of the Sofitel blue infinity pool and the black steel bars winding around el Korba Street.” Added Koree With their all new P10 and P10 Plus, Huawei proves that consumers are just one touch away from delivering the perfect portrait. The Huawei P10 and P10 plus are tailor-made for those with an artistic eye. With its unique camera features, the smartphone is perfect for the rising photographers of today, the Instagram influencers and the obsessed selfie addicts. It truly is a professional studio right in your pocket!

Society Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers Sohour at Si Omar

Ct | jul/AuG 2017

Mercedes Iftar at Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski

jul/aug 2017 | Ct

Society Nile Radio Productionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Annual Iftar at Cairo Marriott For the second year in a row, Nile Radio Productions hosted their annual iftar at The Cairo Marriott Hotel at the historic Aida Ballroom. The Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chairman, Ayman Salem, and Hala Hegazy, the Deputy CEO and Managing Director, were present among their team members from both stations, Nile FM and Nogoum FM. Several radio hosts from the latter showed up , while from Nile FM, the famous British radio host Mark Somers and Sally made an appearance, and to top it off, Mickey celebrated his birthday with a Mickey Mouse cake! p

Ct | jul/AuG 2017

Media and Press Iftar at InterContinental Cairo Citystars The hotel invited some of their favorite friends from the media to a sumptuous Iftar at their newest Egyptian-themed dining destination, El Khal, and Lebanese restaurant Fayruz. With a vibrant atmosphere matched with traditional Egyptian cuisine, everyone ate to their heartsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; content before they headed to the pool in the open air for some shisha. p

jul/aug 2017 | Ct

Society Mini Countryman Test Drive in Gouna A test drive event was held in El Gouna that introduced Mini Cooper’s new vehicle “Countryman” to the market with the popular hashtag #addstories. The event was attended by many of Egypt’s media personnel. p

Ct | jul/AuG 2017

Launch of Oppoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s F3 Selfie Expert Oppo announced the release of their new F3 Selfie Expert device during a huge event that took place at The Nile Ritz Carlton, in the presence of many influencers, media personnel and popular figures. p

jul/aug 2017 | Ct

Society Semiramis InterContinental Hosts Ramadan Media Sohour At Fawanees By Nile Terrace Semiramis InterContinental Cairo hosted its Ramadan media sohour at its picturesque Ramadan venue: Fawanees by Nile Terrace. The event was attended by various media personalities, bloggers and influencers who enjoyed the delicious dishes prepared by Lebanese Chef Baz and the Semiramis culinary team, while humming along to the unique tunes of the Oriental RipOff Band. p

Ct | jul/AuG 2017

IKEA Egypt Hosts Media Iftar with a Twist In a festive Ramadan atmosphere, IKEA Egypt invited media friends to a lavish Iftar in its restaurant, which was especially decorated for the occasion. Invitees enjoyed the enchanting evening listening to the unique rhythmic sounds of the Handpan; a steel drum played with the hands, creating many layers of sound and ethereal effects. Adosh Sharma, Country Manager of IKEA Egypt said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were so happy to welcome our media friends. It was a great opportunity to spend some time catching-up. It is an annual event that we truly cherish.â&#x20AC;? p

jul/aug 2017 | Ct

Society Somabay Revives Ramadan’s Authentic Spirit with its Annual Iftar Gathering Somabay hosted its annual Iftar gathering at Katameya Heights Clubhouse to bring together its close family of partners and friends in a memorable Ramadan event planned to capture the true spirit of the holy month. Mr. Osama Saleh, Somabay’s Chairman, and CEO Mr. Ibrahim El Missiri welcomed more than 350 loyal VIP guests from both Kempinski and Marriott Hotels, in addition to several media personnel and travel and hospitality partners in different fields where everything —from the decorations and the music to the food— set the mood for an authentic Ramadan experience that left a lasting impression. Dokkan Oriental Band was the highlight of the evening, in addition to round-the-clock fun spanning across backgammon competitions, henna drawing and traditional carts serving local beverages, along with tempting bites to complement the mood. p

Ct | jul/AuG 2017

Launch of the New Generation Toyota Fortuner Toyota launched the new generation model of the Fortuner at an impressive event held at the Mena House Hotel on July 10th, after a five year period of unchanging design. With significant improvements to its power, technology and design, this vehicle further cemented its place in the offroading and on-roading market. Among those who attended the event were Mr. Ahmed Monsef, CEO of Toyota Egypt, Mr. Nagata San, General Manager of Toyota Motor Corporation in the Middle East and North Africa, Mr. Len Hunt, President of Automotive Group Al Futtaim and Mr. Masahiko Maeda, Chief Engineer of IMV, Toyota Motor Corporation, as well as many media personnel. p

jul/aug 2017 | Ct

Business

Fouka Bay – Tatweer Misr’s Unrivaled Project In Ras El Hekma WHERE EvERy HoME Is A WATERFRonT BEAcH HoME!

scape to one of the most spectacular getaways in the country: an enchanting place set on the picturesque Ras El Hekma area in the North Coast. The Waterfront Beach Resort of Fouka Bay is a fascinating gem that allows you to luxuriate in the kilometer long stretch of natural, powdery fine sand where children and adults alike will surely enjoy, acquire a healthy tan or simply unwind from sun up to sundown. The new resort brings to fruition Tatweer Misr’s innovative vision of “Contemporary Simplicity” with clusters of “eye-shaped” islands that are ideal for “one” and for “everyone”. Drawing on the ancient tradition where water was the sole deliverer of life, Tatweer Misr has signed its second contract with Crystal Lagoons thereby bringing idyllic beachfront living to the heart of the Fouka Bay resort effectively turning each house into a waterfront home. With this latest addition, the resort offers an abundance of living options; ranging from villas, twin houses, town houses and standalone chalets. The crystal-clear lagoon is not just a pleasure to the eye; it will also add significant value to the resort by offering a range of new watersport activities such as sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding and swimming, all in a safe environment. Positioned amongst landscaped gardens, crystal clear lagoons and a mesmerizing backdrop of sea views, Fouka Bay is designed to accommodate a variety of housing options that foster community living at its best. All housing options at the resort are beautifully designed to provide you with the epitome of contemporary simplicity complimented by an idyllic lifestyle. Seamlessly nestled into floating landscapes of private lagoons and sea views, homes not only accommodate parking spaces, but also boast wide glass facades that take in sufficient amounts of sunlight and lush garden views. All units are designed to the highest degree of luxury, a spaciously comfortable layout and a design aesthetic that combines functional beach simplicity with true elegance. p

Ct | jul/AuG 2017