Latest news with #Jahin
Daily News Egypt
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily News Egypt
'Our Uncle Salah Jahin': National Centre for Translation Tribute to Egyptian Cultural Icon
The National Centre for Translation, directed by Karma Sami, hosted a celebration on Wednesday honouring the multifaceted artist Salah Jahin, titled 'Our Uncle… Salah Jahin'. Held in the Taha Hussein Hall at the centre's headquarters in Cairo's Opera House Square, the event was attended by Jahin's daughter, Amina Jahin, musician Mounir El Wasimi, poet Amin Haddad, and numerous translators and intellectuals. The evening commenced with El Wasimi elucidating his musical arrangement of Jahin's quatrains, originally composed by Sayed Mekawi and performed by Ali El Haggar. A seminar followed, moderated by Moustafa Riyad, featuring discussions led by Lubna Abdel Tawab, Amal El Hadary, and researcher Amira El Samny. A group of aspiring translators also presented their renditions of Jahin's poems in various languages, including English, Spanish, German, and Persian. Among them were students from the English Department at Suez Canal University's Faculty of Arts, supervised by Walid Abdallah. This served as a poignant tribute to Jahin's pioneering poetry and its profound influence during a pivotal period in Egyptian history. Karma Sami Sami underscored the significance of honouring Jahin and preserving his legacy. 'Jahin is a man who showered the Arab world with love and culture,' she stated. Sami recounted her own profound admiration for Jahin's work, recalling the awe she experienced upon seeing the play Sahsah Lama Yengah – a collaborative masterpiece by Jahin (writer), Mohamed Fawzi (composer), and Salah El Sakka (director), originally produced in 1963 as part of the Cairo Puppet Theatre's repertoire. She also shared a personal anecdote about beginning her days with Jahin's cartoons and the deep impact his passing had on her. She noted the massive attendance at his funeral, a testament to his enduring influence. Sami emphasised the continuing resonance of Jahin's work, particularly poems like those about the Bahr El-Baqar and Gaza students, which vividly portray Egypt, its people, and the Arab world. A short film, directed by Mohamed Fadel, further showcased Jahin's diverse talents as a playwright, poet, cartoonist, and screenwriter. El Wasimi described Jahin as a multifaceted artist, philosopher, and a man of the people, deeply connected to Egyptian folk life. He lauded Jahin's ability to seamlessly blend colloquial and classical Arabic in his writing. 'Jahin was an artist from head to toe and loved art and new artists, actively seeking out fresh talent,' El Wasimi added. He shared an anecdote about the creation of Jahin's quatrains, recalling a disagreement over the number of instruments to be used. Jahin favoured string instruments, while El Wasimi envisioned a larger orchestra of over 50 musicians. The recording was ultimately made according to El Wasimi's vision. He explained that the quatrains occupy a unique genre, neither simple romantic songs nor purely patriotic anthems, but rather explorations of diverse stories and emotions, especially when paired with Mekawi's compositions. Attendees enjoyed listening to excerpts from the quatrains, captivated by El Haggar's powerful vocals and Mekawi's evocative melodies. Abdel Wahab discussed the poem 'Ala Esm Masr' ('In the Name of Egypt'), describing it as a remarkable collaboration between poet and translator, conveying profound emotions in English. 'In Love of Egypt,' the title of the English translation by El Anani, she noted, perfectly captured Jahin's sentiment. She referred to Jahin as an inspiration for generations and the poem as an epic, encompassing Egypt's history, rulers, and geography. While only 23 verses in Arabic, El Anani's English rendering spans 56 verses. Abdel Wahab suggested that the translation could be a valuable tool for language students. El Hadary reviewed a new translation of Jahin's quatrains, Fi Hodn El Watan ('In the Embrace of the Homeland'), highlighting Jahin's ability to evoke the nation's experiences without explicitly naming it, allowing 'Egypt' to be embodied within the writing itself. This celebration was part of a Ministry of Culture initiative, under the patronage of Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Minister of Culture, to celebrate Salah Jahin's significant contributions to Egyptian identity, titled 'Our Uncle… Salah Jahin.'
CairoScene
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
‘Our Uncle Salah Jahin' Caricature Exhibition Now on Display in Rome
The Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome is hosting an exhibition titled 'Love With Our Philosopher of the Simple…Our Uncle Salah Jahin', showcasing 32 never-before-seen original Jahin drawings. Feb 20, 2025 'Our Uncle Salah Jahin', an exhibition dedicated to the eponymous caricaturist, has been put on display in Rome, Italy, until February 20th. Previously held at the Hanager Arts Centre in Cairo, the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome is hosting the exhibition under the title 'Love with Our Philosopher of the Simple…Our Uncle Salah Jahin' in its main hall. Both these exhibitions are part of an initiative launched by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture to honour Salah Jahin, recognising his contributions to the country as a poet and an artist. Throughout his lifetime, he produced many works addressing poignant social issues with a satirical approach, making him an iconic figure in Egyptian and Arab culture. The exhibition in Cairo featured a collection of his rare drawings, including 32 original drawings displayed for the first time, as well as around 60 caricature portraits of Jahin by 52 artists from Egypt and beyond. The Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome also features a rare collection of Jahin's caricature drawings, and showcases his famous quatrains translated into Arabic, Italian, English and French.
Al-Ahram Weekly
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Our Uncle Salah Jahin: Exhibition celebrating Egyptian poet, culture icon in Cairo, Rome - Visual Art - Arts & Culture
Egypt celebrates the distinguished poet and cultural icon Salah Jahin by holding a caricature exhibition called Our Uncle Salah Jahin, which will then move to Rome. The exhibition, which will run from 19 to 20 February, will be held at Adam Henein Hall in the Hanager Arts Centre. Under the title In Love with the Philosopher of the Uncle Salah Jahin, the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome will host the exhibition starting 21 February in its main hall. Both exhibitions are part of the initiative the Ministry of Culture launched to honour Salah Jahin (also spelt Jaheen) and celebrate him as a poet and artist and a national icon who creatively portrayed Egypt during a challenging era. Adam Henein Hall showcases a collection of rare and original drawings by Salah Jahin, alongside caricature portraits of him created by a group of cartoonists from Egypt and several other countries. The exhibition features 32 original drawings by the late artist, displayed for the first time as part of Egypt's artistic heritage. It includes nearly 60 caricature portraits by 52 artists worldwide, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Portugal, India, Uruguay, Spain, Indonesia, China, Poland, Kosovo, Cuba, North Macedonia, Brazil, Peru, Russia, Sweden, Myanmar, and Egypt. Exhibition highlights Among the exhibition's highlights is a caricature of Jahin by Syrian artist Saad Hago. Hago created a portrait using a typographic approach integrating one of Jahin's famous poetic lines. Another notable work is by Egyptian artist Ahmed Abdel-Naeem, who used vibrant colours to reflect the artistic diversity of Jahin's works, including his philosophical yet simple quatrains and his contributions to songwriting, playwriting, and caricature art. Bahraini artist Ali Al-Samekh presents an innovative portrayal of Jahin, capturing the depth of his artistic and cultural journey through expressive eyes. Another remarkable piece is a painting by artist Hosni Abbas. It depicts Jahin holding an oversized paintbrush, which some see as the artistic tool he leaned on throughout his life; others interpret it as a symbol of his triumphant success. In addition to the vibrant, colourful pieces, the exhibition includes black-and-white portraits and single-tone artworks. This diversity in artistic techniques and styles from international artists enriches the exhibition and adds intellectual and creative depth. Uncle Jahin in Rome! The Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome will feature a rare collection of caricature drawings by Salah Jahin, emphasizing his contribution to Egypt's artistic heritage. The exhibition will also include works showcasing his famous quatrains translated into Arabic, Italian, English, and French, highlighting his intellectual impact on Italian audiences. Fawzi Morsi, the secretary-general of the Egyptian Caricature Society and coordinator of two exhibitions, told Ahram Online that several caricature artists from Egypt and beyond will participate in the Rome exhibition, recognizing Jahin as a significant artistic figure in the field of caricature at all levels. The Rome exhibition marks an exceptional cooperation between the Egyptian Academy and the Egyptian Caricature Society, chaired by artist Mostafa El-Sheikh. Salah Jahin, the icon Salah Jahin (1930-1986) was an Egyptian poet and artist who began his career in caricature at Rose El-Youssef magazine before working at various other press institutions, including Al-Ahram and Sabah El-Kheir magazine. He was known for addressing topics that touched Egyptians, capturing their concerns with a satirical approach that brought smiles while expressing their struggles. His unique artistic style allowed him to create full narratives within a single caricature, making him an iconic figure in Egyptian and Arab culture. Jahin's words and songs resonated throughout the Arab world, and his colourful, cheerful illustrations conveyed profound human values. The Our Uncle Salah Jahin exhibition is part of a series of events organized by the Ministry of Culture to honour Egypt's creative icons, shedding light on their artistic and cultural contributions and their role in enriching Egyptian identity. This event follows last month's tribute to the legendary filmmaker Shadi Abdel Salam through the event Shadi's Day… Celebrating Egyptian Identity. 19 February: Salah Jahin's celebrations The day includes many other activities spanning multiple venues in Cairo and Alexandria. These include music performances, poetry recitals, cultural seminars, and art exhibitions at the Cairo, Alexandria, and Damanhour operas. The General Authority for Cultural Palaces, the National Library and Archives, the Fine Arts Sector, and the National Centre for Translation will curate events in the governorates. Short link:
