Arabs & Arabian Records Aggregator. Chronicler. Milestones of the 25 Countries of the Arabic Speaking World (official / co-official). AGCC. MENA. Global. Ist's to Top 10's. Records. Read & Enjoy./ www.arabianrecords.org
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli attended Tuesday evening the signing of an agreement between the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) to allocate a land plot for the establishment of a $10-billion wind farm whose capacity will be 10 gigawatts, making it the world’s largest.
Masdar will operate within a consortium that includes Infinity Power and Hassan Allam Utilities. The project is estimated to save $5 billion in natural gas costs per annum, and reduce carbon emissions by 23.8 million tons, which is nine percent of Egypt’s annual emissions.
The farm will produce 47,790 GWh of clean energy every year contributing in Egyptian efforts aimed at making the share of renewables in the energy mix 42 percent by 2035.
The initial agreement was signed on the sidelines of COP 27 held in Sharm El Sheikh in November, so as the signing was attended by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed.
The managerial ability of Pep Guardiola was backed by Sheikh Mansour’s long-term project as City won a historic treble.
When Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Court, bought Manchester City in 2008, the club was languishing in the mid-table of the English Premier League.
It had just finished the previous season in ninth position, 32 points behind Manchester United, the champion of England and its famously successful city rival.
United then was brimming with world-class talent.
A team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Edwin van der Sar, United had also won the Champions League in 2008.
It was Sir Alex Ferguson’s second European triumph with United as manager following the famous treble-winning season in 1999.
So it was a couple of months after United enjoyed one of its greatest seasons that Sheikh Mansour made his foray into English football with a club that was never able to sit alongside the elites in the sport.
But the visionary UAE leader went on to change the footballing landscape in such a way that City is now football’s ultimate aristocrat.
So how did City, who completed a historic treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League this season, become the most dominant team after Sheikh Mansour took over the club?
Long-term goal
Brazilian star Robinho joined Man City from Real Madrid in 2008. — Twitter
City did not become successful overnight despite the takeover from Sheikh Mansour in 2008.
It made a slow and steady progress and one that was backed by Sheikh Mansour in every step.
In the first season after the takeover, City could only finish 10th in the league despite acquiring a big-name player from Real Madrid, Robinho, the Brazilian superstar.
But City made gradual improvement and next season in 2010, the team became stronger after the arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Kolo Toure.
Chelsea, United, Arsenal and Tottenham were the top four teams that season as City finished fifth, narrowly missing out on a place in the Champions League.
FA Cup triumph
The next season in 2011, City finally ended its trophy drought. A Carlos Tevez-inspired City won the FA Cup that season with a 1-0 win over Stoke City in the final – it was the team’s first major triumph since 1976.
City had reached the final with victory over United in the semifinal, the club’s first success in a knockout game against the bitter rival since 1975.
City then went on to finish third in the league, qualifying directly for the Champions League in what was another landmark for the club.
Premier League ecstasy
After breaking into the top-three of the Premier League, City turned on the style in England.
Sergio Aguero had just joined City from Atletico Madrid and the Argentina star made an instant impact.
City thrashed Tottenham 5-1 and humiliated United 6-1, signalling its arrival on the big stage as the big contender for the title.
The battle for the league title, though, was not easy with United bouncing back only to fall again.
It went to the last day with City needing a win against the Queens Park Rangers to pip United for the title.
But City was trailing 2-1 until the 91st minute in the dramatic last game of the season.
The Blues though scored an equalizer in the 92nd minute before Aguero found the winner in the last minute of injury time with a moment of magic, sparking wild celebrations on the field and in the stands.
It was City’s first league title in 44 years and it was the start of a golden era for the club.
Guardiola arrives
City had added one more Premier League title in 2014. Two years later, the club hired Pep Guardiola, who famously led Lionel Messi’s Barcelona to glorious triumphs during his four-year stint as manager of the Catalan club.
Guardiola arrived in City after a two-year spell at Bayern Munich.
A man famous for building teams that play eye-catching football, Guardiola was entrusted with the responsibility of making City a serial winner as well as an aesthetically pleasing team.
The Spanish coach imposed his style on the team and it won the league in 2017-2018 by collecting the highest points for a season.
City retained the Premier League title next season, its first successful defence of the title in history.
With world-class players in the team, City was producing mesmeric football as it also won two more league titles in 2021 and 2022.
But the biggest dream — the Champions League title — remained unfulfilled after defeat to Chelsea in the 2021 All-England final.
Historic treble
Sheikh Mansour’s Manchester City was finally rewarded in Europe for its perseverance.
City produced another masterclass in beautiful and brilliant football as Guardiola’s team won its third straight Premier League title, overcoming a spirited challenge from Arsenal.
The club then beat city rival United in the final to win the FA Cup.
And once it outplayed Real Madrid, the most dominant team in the history of European football, in the Champions League semifinal, City became the overwhelming favourite in the final against Inter Milan.
The Italians put up a big fight in the Istanbul final, but the superior quality of City made the difference as Rodri’s sumptuous goal separated the victor from the vanquished.
City’s wait to be European champion was finally over as it also became the first team since Manchester United to complete the treble.
It has taken the team 15 years since the takeover from Sheikh Mansour to scale the highest peak.
The long-term vision of Sheikh Mansour helped City become the king of European football.
The club has won seven Premier League, three FA Cup, six League Cup and the 2023 Champions League title in these 15 trophy-laden years under Sheikh Mansour’s leadership.
“One of the main reasons why this club became what we are is because of the people from Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mansour, took over the club,” Guardiola said. “Without that, we would not be here.”
The biggest tribute City can pay to Sheikh Mansour now is by becoming the first team since Real Madrid to defend the Champions League title.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Court, attends the Champions League final. — Reuters
Avionav managed to export the first Tunisian-made helicopter. The Tunisia-based aircraft manufacturer company is gearing up to deliver more helicopters as it has embarked on the manufacturing of light utility helicopters. The company has been exporting its aircrafts to countries throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.
Avionav is a Tunisian aircraft manufacturer that produces light aircraft for recreational and training purposes. The company was founded in 2007 in Mateur, Bizerte, by two Italian manufacturers. Later, a group of Tunisian engineers acquired it and relocated its main production facility to Sousse, Tunisia.
Avionav currently produces two models of light aircraft: the AV3 and the AV4. The AV3 is a two-seat, low-wing monoplane designed for training and recreational flying. The AV4 is a four-seat, high-wing monoplane that can be used for a variety of purposes including transportation, agricultural, advertising banner transportation, and surveillance. The company does also offer maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for its own aircraft as well as for other aircraft types.
“Since then, we’ve been doing our utmost to provide total customer satisfaction by providing high-quality, top-of-the-line products at 30% lower prices than our competitors,” Kamel said.
More than 1,300 of its models are currently flying, and roughly 40 light aircrafts (two to four passengers) are produced annually.
The company’s market includes the United States, Europe (Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain), Latin America (Brazil and Argentina), Asia/the Middle East (Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran), and Africa (Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal). According to Kamel, new markets such as Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, and Qatar are being explored.
“Africa is an extremely lucrative market. We are presently in negotiations with Senegal and Mauritania,” he stated.
Any of the company’s aircraft can be delivered one month after being ordered. Which is “quite rare” in this industry, Kamel says with pride.
Due to its numerous advantages, the company chose carbon fiber for its Rally aircraft with large wings. It has certifications from ultralight aircraft manufacturers (ULM) and light sport aircraft (LSA).
While aspiring to become a boxing champion, Taghmaoui’s fascination with cinema eventually led him to pursue a career in acting.
French-Moroccan Actor Said Taghmaoui has solidified his presence in the Hollywood industry, successfully securing various roles alongside renowned stars.
His latest endeavor sees him teaming up with Golden Globe nominee Mark Wahlberg in an upcoming feature film called “The Family Plan,” produced by Apple Original Films and Skydance.
Written by David Coggeshall, “The Family Plan” follows the story of a suburban father who finds himself on the run with his family when his past catches up to him.
The movie is directed by Simon Cellan Jones and produced by Wahlberg, Municipal Pictures’ Stephen Levinson, and Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger.
In addition to “The Family Plan,” Taghmaoui has also landed a role in the action-packed film “Tin Soldier,” which boasts an impressive cast including Oscar winners Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro, as well as Scott Eastwood.
During a recent interview with French lecturer and essayist Idriss Jamil Aberkane, Taghmaoui opened up about his journey as an actor. He described himself as an “autodidact,” highlighting the fact that he didn’t attend school but instead pursued his passions with unwavering dedication.
Recalling his boxing days, the actor expressed how the sport played a significant role in his personal growth. He believes that either boxing chose him or he chose boxing, emphasizing its complexity and the introspection it demanded.
While aspiring to become a boxing champion, Taghmaoui’s fascination with cinema eventually led him to pursue a career in acting.
Born in France to Moroccan immigrant parents, Taghmaoui became a naturalized US citizen in 2008 and swiftly made a name for himself in the Hollywood industry.
Despite dropping out of school at a young age, his boxing talent propelled him to second place in his category in France. It was during this time that he met Mathieu Kassovitz, with whom he co-wrote the acclaimed French film “La haine” (1995), which earned the Best Director award at Cannes.
Since then, Taghmaoui has become a prominent figure in cinema and has expanded his repertoire to include films from various countries, such as Italy, Germany, the United States, and Morocco.
He has featured in Hollywood productions like “G.I. Joe,” “Wonder Woman,” “Traitor,” “John Wick,” and “The Forgiven,” showcasing his versatility and talent as an actor.
Her Royal Highness (HRH), Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud, the Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies, was reappointed as the UN-Habitat Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab region for a second term during a meeting held at the UN-Habitat premises in Riyadh.
As the first ever UN-Habitat Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab region appointed in 2020, HRH shed the light on key urban issues through her engagement with UN-Habitat activities and events, including the tenth session of the World Urban Forum 2020 and World Habitat Day Global Observance 2020.
HRH further advocated for topics, including Cities free from Violence against Women and Girls and COIVID-19 response in urban areas, as well as supported resource mobilization for a number of projects, targeting housing for the most vulnerable groups, COVID-19 response and climate action, spanning Iraq, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, and Tunisia.
“I am greatly honoured to have been appointed for the second time as the UN-Habitat Regional Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab world. Our partnership with UN-Habitat will support our efforts to address issues around urbanization and its implications on societies, economies and environments. We promise to continue building bridges for a more compassionate, tolerant and accepting future along with our key partners.”
HRH signed her appointment letter in the presence of Maimunah Mohd Sharif, UN-Habitat Executive Director, Erfan Ali, UN-Habitat Regional Representative for the Arab States and Ayman El-Hefnawi, UN-Habitat Head of Office in Saudi Arabia.
“In the past three years during UN-Habitat’s cooperation with HRH Princess Lamia bint Majid Al Saud as UN-Habitat’s regional Goodwill Ambassador, HRH has shown the utmost commitment to the advocacy for the UN-Habitat mandate to realise more sustainable, resilient and inclusive cities,” Sharif commented.
UN-Habitat is keen on continuing the cooperation with HRH for the years 2022, 2023 and beyond in all relevant areas, including climate action, urban crisis response, housing and advocating the realization of better cities for all.
Mawhiba representatives told the 13th Conference of Arab Ministers of Education in Rabat that its ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative had identified and was supporting people in 16 Arab countries
Secretary-General Dr. Amal bint Abdullah Al-Hazaa said that the program allows Saudi leadership to share their expertise and discover, nurture, and empower talent around the Arab world
More than 600 ‘gifted’ students have been granted support to realize their academic talents under an initiative launched by a Saudi foundation, an education conference has been told.
Leaders from Mawhiba, or the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, Mawhiba, told the 13th Conference of Arab Ministers of Education in Rabat, Morocco, that its ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative had identified and was supporting people in 16 Arab countries.
Secretary-General Dr. Amal bint Abdullah Al-Hazaa said that the program allows Saudi leadership to share their expertise and discover, nurture, and empower talent around the Arab world.
Dr. Khaled Al-Sharif, director general of Mawhiba’s Center of Excellence, said that 606 students were identified in the first and second rounds of the ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative’s recruitment.
The initiative has provided the talented students with qualitative enrichment and academic programs to develop their knowledge and capabilities, he added.
Mawhiba said that its efforts were part of its vision to empower talent and creativity to further prosperity.
The conference, “Future of Education in the Arab World in the Digital Transformation Era,” was held on May 29 and 30.
source/contents: arabnews.com (headline edited)
___________
Mawhiba has grant aided 606 students under its ‘Gifted Arabs’ initiative. (SPA)
Ryyan Alshebl fled war-torn Syria in 2015, arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos after a harrowing four-hour journey on a rubber boat.
Eight years on, he is the mayor of a German village.
“It was dark and cold and there was not a single light to be seen on Lesbos,” he recalls.
“A few hours ago we had been in a normal Mediterranean town in Turkey. The environment had transformed with the cold and dark, and of course the feelings of fear that go with such a journey.”
Alshebl, then barely 21, was among a huge wave of refugees who arrived in Europe that year.
After landing in Greece, he made his way through Macedonia, Serbia, and Croatia by public transport and on foot, taking 12 days in total to reach Germany.
He eventually ended up at a refugee center at Althengstett, a rural region near the Black Forest.
“In the shared accommodation, where you cannot expect more than a bed, a roof, and some food, for which you are still thankful, you can only do one thing: get back on your feet quickly and invest rapidly in your own future,” he said.
Alshebl soon learned to speak German fluently — “if you are in the countryside you have no other choice” — and landed a traineeship as an administrative assistant at Althengstett town hall.
He earned German citizenship in 2022, a prerequisite for anyone who wants to stand in local elections in Germany.
‘Taking responsibility’
Now 29, he will take up his post as mayor of Ostelsheim, a village near Althengstett, in June.
He is believed to be the first Syrian from the wave of refugees who arrived in Germany in 2015-16 to be elected to a political post.
Alshebl was joined by four friends on his journey to Europe. But he left behind his parents and one brother, though a second brother had already moved to Germany on a student visa.
He said his experience of fleeing Syria and having “to take responsibility not only for (myself) but also for the environment” had given him the drive to go into politics.
“To take on this responsibility at such an age, you learn a lot. Of course, it creates a new person, a new personality,” he said.
Alshebl ran as an independent candidate in the election, winning 55.41 percent of the vote.
But he is also a member of the Greens, “because climate protection is very important” to him.
His victory is all the more striking given that Ostelsheim, a village of 2,700 people, is a traditionally conservative community.
Situated among a cluster of hills, the village is surrounded by rolling fields lined with dry stone walls and hedges.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party harnessed anger over the influx of asylum seekers in 2015-16 to win votes and ultimately enter parliament for the first time.
Openness
But Alshebl said he has not seen right-wing extremism personally.
Alshebl believes he was elected because he listened to the people’s concerns — from childcare to digitalization issues.
He admits to not really “feeling anything” on hearing he had won the election in March as he was “overwhelmed”.
But as congratulations poured in from around the world, it became clear that his story was “bigger than a mayoral election in a small community”.
Alshebl believes the fact he triumphed against two other local candidates who grew up in the area says a lot about the mentality of the voters.
“It is a sign that people did not count the origin, but the qualifications. It is a sign of openness to the world,” he said.
Alshebl’s parents, a schoolteacher and an agricultural engineer, belong to Syria’s Druze minority, but he describes himself as not religious.
He has “mixed feelings” about Syria, which he has not been able to visit since living in Germany.
“It is the country where you were born and raised… You long for the people you grew up with,” he said.
“But I am happy that I got this chance to live here at all” when others have not, he said.
Ryyan Alshebl, mayor of the community of Ostelsheim in Baden-Wuerttemberg, southwestern Germany, addresses a press talk with the Association of the Foreign Press in Germany (VAP) in Berlin, Germany on May 30, 2023. AFP
Baghdad hosted the transport ministers of GCC states, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to discuss the initiative.
Iraq unveiled on Saturday an ambitious transport project that will connect Asia to Europe, and enhance regional co-operation and economic opportunities.
The one-day conference in Baghdad brought together transport ministers and officials from the GCC, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to discuss the establishment of the Development Road initiative.
The huge infrastructure project will link southern Iraq to the border with Turkey, from where it will connect to rail and road networks in Europe.
Addressing the conference, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani said the project would provide an “economic artery and a promising opportunity to bring interests, history and cultures together to make our region a destination for anyone seeking successful investment”.
“Your presence today in stable and secure Baghdad, loaded with opportunities and aspirations, is part of the process of finding solutions,” Mr Al Sudani said.
“The Development Road is an ambitious and well-studied plan towards a strong and successful economy. We see it as a cornerstone for a sustainable non-oil economy, serving Iraq’s neighbours and the region and contributing to efforts for economic integration,” he said.
“It will take all the peoples of the region to an unprecedented stage of communication and integration and that means more stability and capability to face challenges.”
The project involves the construction of about 1,200km of two-way rail networks and a new motorway for passengers and goods originating from Al Faw port, which is being built along the Arabian Gulf in Basra province.
The Iraqi government envisions high-speed trains moving goods and passengers at up to 300 kilometres per hour. Logistic centres and industrial cities are also planned along the network and it could include oil and gas pipelines.
It estimates that the project will cost up to $17 billion, generate $4 billion annually and create at least 100,000 jobs.
“As Iraq [has] recovered and retrieved its pivotal political role in the region, becoming a political convergence point, the time has come for [it] to retrieve its economic role,” Transport Minister Razzaq Al Saadawi told a local TV station on Thursday.
He said the project would transform the economy.
Saturday’s conference “will be a consultative meeting to explain the Development Road project and Al Faw Port, and to listen to the points of view of the participating delegations”, Mr Al Saadawi said.
The participants will discuss a number of proposals with regards to finance – from government funds to investment to the creation of a sovereign fund, with the money coming from the government, investors and loans, he said.
The co-operation between the countries involved in the project is expected to boost the “security and stability of the region and preserve its economy, therefore we are determined to carry out this project”, Mr Al Saadawi said.
At the end of the meeting, Mr Al Saadawi said joint legal, technical, financial and management committees would be formed to discuss financing and implementation.
The project offers an alternative to traditional sea routes, with reduced transport costs and shorter transit times. It will benefit not only the participating countries but also the broader global trade network.
Iraq is keen to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative – a global development strategy involving infrastructure development and investments in about 70 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe – through the Development Road and Al Faw port.
Despite its oil wealth, with about 145 billion barrels of proven reserves, Iraq lags behind neighbouring economies due to decades of war since the 1980s, UN economic sanctions imposed in the ’90s and political and security instability that followed the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
The World Bank’s country representative, Richard Abdulnour, said building infrastructure was a must for “unleashing the geographical potential of Iraq” and expressed the bank’s readiness to support the Development Road project.
Iraq needs to invest more than $21 billion in the coming five years on transportation alone, Mr Abdulnour told the conference.
He said the transportation sector contributed 9 per cent to Iraq’s gross domestic product, and that its annual growth has been 7.4 per cent over the past 10 years.
Iraq has a chequered history of rail transport, reflecting the country’s ups and downs.
A modest form of railway was introduced during the reign of the Ottoman governor to Baghdad Midhat Pasha between 1869 and 1872.
With financial support from wealthy Baghdadi merchants, Midhat Pasha established a horse-drawn tram linking central Baghdad to its northern district of Kadhimiyah.
Decades later, Britain and Germany raced to build railway lines in Iraq to not only transport troops and military equipment but also to establish a connection point linking their colonies.
A railway line linking Iraq to Berlin through Turkey was proposed in 1903 but opened only in 1940. Known as the BBBor the “Three Bs” — for Baghdad, Byzantium (now Istanbul) and Berlin — the line served travellers and was also used to transport commodities, mainly cereals and oil products.
Local rail networks also flourished thanks to oil revenue, with the number of daily train services rising to more than 50.
The BBB line was closed in the late 1970s, shortly before Iraq’s gruelling war with Iran that lasted from 1980 to 1988 and also affected rail operations inside Iraq.
In late 1990s, amid the UN-imposed economic sanctions on Iraq following the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq reactivated the BBB line after restoring relations with Syria and Turkey. Demand was high from both travellers, mainly pilgrims from and to Syria, and also from merchants transporting goods.
But the revival was short-lived — Turkey asked Iraq to stop services only days before the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The poor security situation in much of northern Iraq after the invasion hindered plans to reactivate the line. Then came the 2014 ISIS onslaught in large areas in the north and west, and the military operations to drive the militants out. The war left railway stations and other infrastructure heavily damaged, with plans for repairs hindered by a lack of funds.
Now, only a few passengers trickle through the once bustling Baghdad Railway Central Station, which was built by the British and inaugurated in 1952 to expand the old station from which the BBB line started. Only two passenger services operate each day, taking commuters between Baghdad and the southern city of Basra, with stops in the cities of Hillah, Diwaniyah, Samawah and Nasiriyah.
During her lifetime, Fatima was called the “mother of boys”. According to historian Mohammed Yasser Hilali, “this nickname probably stems from her charity and the fact she took students under her wing”.
When thinking of the oldest universities in the world, probably the first ones that come to most people’s minds are Oxford and Bologna, but according to UNESCO and the Guinness World Records, Al-Qarawiyyin University (also written as Al-Karaouine) is the “oldest existing, and continually operating educational institution in the world.”
Founded in 859 A.D. by Tunisian-born Fatima al-Fihri in Morocco’s Fez, the university is not only the oldest higher education institution on Earth but also the first to be founded by a Muslim woman. Fatima used her inheritance from her merchant father’s wealth to found the university which started as an associated school – known as a madrasa – and a mosque that eventually grew into a place of higher education. It also introduced the system of awarding degrees according to different levels of study in a range of fields, such as religious studies, grammar and rhetoric. Though the university first focused on religious instruction, its fields of study quickly expanded to include logic, medicine, mathematics and astronomy, among many others.
The University of Al Quaraouiyine became a state university in 1963 and now awards degrees in Islamic, religious and legal sciences with an emphasis on classical Arabic grammar and linguistics and law.
Interestingly, teaching is still delivered in a very traditional manner, whereby students are seated in a semi-circle around a Sheikh (Islamic scholar), who prompts them to read sections of particular texts, asks them questions on aspects of grammar, law, or interpretation, and explains difficult points. Education at the University of al-Qarawiyyin concentrates on the Islamic religious and legal sciences with a heavy emphasis on, and particular strengths in, Classical Arabic grammar/linguistics and Maliki Sharia, though lessons on non-Islamic subjects are also offered to students. Teaching is still delivered in the traditional methods. The university is attended by students from all over Morocco and Muslim West Africa, with some also coming from further abroad. Women were first admitted to the institution in the 1940s
Fatima al-Fihri was born in 800 A.D. She was the daughter of Mohammed Bnou Abdullah al-Fihri – a rich merchant who settled in Fez with his family during the reign of Idris II.
Fatima’s family was part of a community called the “Qarawiyyin” (the ones from Qayrawan) whose two thousand families migrated from Qayrawan in Tunisia, to Fez in Morocco which was then under the rule of Idris II, a respected and devout ruler.
After the community was banned by the local ruler. The caravan included Fatima’s father Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Fihri, and sister Mariam. Fatima was well versed in classical Islamic learning such as fiqh (jurisprudence) and hadith (Islamic traditions based on Prophet’s life). She inherited a large fortune from her merchant father which she used to build the university. She personally supervised the entire gigantic enterprise, from putting up the foundation to the functionalizing of these institutions. When she embarked on her mission, she had lost her father, husband, and brother – all primary sources of support and protection for a woman. Any other woman would have retreated to the backwaters of domestic life. But Fatima appears to have been an extraordinarily inspired and determined woman with steely grooves. All her great achievements came during periods of loneliness and in circumstances when women normally shun the world and seek the company of the home.
During her lifetime, Fatima was called the “mother of boys”. According to historian Mohammed Yasser Hilali, “this nickname probably stems from her charity and the fact she took students under her wing.” Fatima al-Fihri herself is considered a saint and she is much respected among the believers especially in Fez. In 2017, a prize was created in Tunisia in her honor. It rewards initiatives which encourage access to training and professional responsibilities for women. Furthermore, an academic program and a scholarship given to students from Europe and North Africa pay tribute to Fatima al-Fihri.
The University of Al-Qarawiyyin (also Al-Karaouine), which was then just called a madrasa (an institute of religious learning), was 30 m long, with a courtyard, a large library, and several schoolrooms. Although initially only the Qur’an and related religious lessons were taught, many other courses of study, like mathematics, medicine, Arabic grammar, history, geography, astronomy, chemistry, music and logic were soon introduced. Fatima studied there herself, along with her students, and awarded them degrees once they completed the courses: a degree that was chiseled onto a wooden board, which is now displayed in the university’s library. She also conducted debates and symposiums periodically for her students, producing politically-aware individuals.
With these innovative ideas, Fatima al-Fihri had not merely founded the first university but had introduced the concept of awarding degrees that is now an essential part of modern higher education.
In fact, the university produced many celebrated intellectuals and historians who are still known to this day: the Islamic philosopher Ibn Rushd, Andalusi diplomat and geographer, Hassan al-Wazzan and historian and thinker Ibn Khaldun, the famous Jewish philosopher, Moses Ben Maimon and Aka Maimonides.
The Christian scholar, Gerbert of Aurillac, who later became Pope Sylvester II, is believed to have visited the university several times. His visits helped him introduce Arabic numerals and the concept of zero to Europe. The University of Al Qarawiyyin is still considered a leading religious and education institution in the Muslim world. The university has moved away to another part of Fez, but the mosque and the library remain at the ancient complex. The University of Al-Qarawiyyin is the oldest existing, continually operating and the first degree awarding educational institution in the world according to UNESCO and Guinness World Records and is sometimes referred to as the oldest university.
(M Ahmad is a regular writer for this newspaper and can be reached at specialachivers78@gmail.com)
Well-known Egyptian soprano Neveen Allouba will be awarded France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in the grade of Chevalier (Knight) by France’s ambassador to Cairo next week.
Allouba’s award for exceptional achievements in the Egyptian music scene follows decades of work in the many aspects of the country’s cultural scene.
Born in 1955, she is among the best known personalities of the Egyptian music scene, with substantial influence outside the country.
Her career includes working with the Cairo Opera Company, where she has performed in countless operas. She has taught numerous young singers and both founded and directed many successful creative endeavours of the Fabrica musical theatre company.
As a young girl, Allouba had dreams of becoming an actress, but was not supported by her family. Instead, she turned to playing piano and singing, graduating from the Cairo Conservatory in 1978.
She was granted scholarships from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (West German Cultural Exchange) and the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation to study opera performance and vocal pedagogy at the Hannover Hochschule fur Music and Theatre where she deepened her singing techniques and eventually obtained a doctorate in 1988.
During her decade-long stay in Germany, Allouba performed as soloist at the Detmold Opera. She also performed in other European operas and theatres and across the Arab world at that time. In 1985, she won the first prize in the female voice category of the competition for young opera singers in Berlin.
Upon her return to Egypt, the soprano became a soloist at the Cairo Opera Company, becoming the first female singer to perform in the newly opened Cairo Opera House. As her singing career progressed, Allouba coupled her performances with her teaching career at the Cairo Conservatory, Cairo Opera Development Centre, University of Alexandria and the American University in Cairo where she is an adjunct professor of voice. She also participated as a jury member in a number of singing competitions.
Some of her students went on to continue their education outside Egypt and thrived as internationally renowned singers.
These include Farrah El-Dibani, a mezzo soprano who performs at the Paris Opera; the Germany-based Rita Sebeih, the lead role of Jasmine in the Disney German production of Aladdin; Nesma Mahgoub, winner of the eighth season of the Star Academy Arab World; Fatma Said, a soprano who was the first Egyptian to join the Academy of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala before launching a big international career.
Fabrica chapter
In mid-2010, Allouba founded the Fabrica musical theatre company, through which she trains, develops and promotes new voices.
Fabrica’s pilot production of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute in Egyptian Arabic was staged in collaboration with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in 2011.
In 2013, the company premiered Les Miserables in Egyptian Arabic and even toured in the USA. It experienced an additional boost in popularity when it was promoted by the internationally famous Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef.
This was only the beginning of many successes of Fabrica and its members. Its successes include performances of Brecht’s Threepenny Opera and adaptations of local shows including El-Leila El-Kebira by Salah Jaheen and Sayed Mekawy, in addition to rock, jazz and Disney concerts.
Fabrica also performed during the inaugural El Gouna Film Festival’s opening ceremony (2017), the SNL Bel Araby’s 50th episode celebration, the Egyptian Media and Production Company’s 20 year anniversary and the Intra-African Trade Fair (2018), among other events. Fabrica was brought to light again, as the company won the award for Best Music Video at the ninth annual MoziMotion festival, held in Hilversum, the Netherlands (October 2019) for Mercury Rising: A Queen Tribute, released in January 2019 (a few months after Bohemian Rhapsody was released in theatres).
Overdue recognition
Allouba’s portfolio and well-established position in the field combines many operatic appearances as well as an unconditional belief in the young generation and a natural – almost motherly – dedication to support and promote young talents, while offering to the Egyptian audiences valuable performances.
It’s worth mentioning that most recently, Allouba was appointed director of the new Arkan Theatre in Sheikh Zayed.
The award comes after Allouba’s decades of perseverance and work that often lacked sufficient limelight. It is an important recognition, if overdue, for an artist whose work has created a strong impact on many singers of more than one Egyptian generation.
The France’s Order of Arts and Letters will be awarded to Allouba during a ceremony held at the French Embassy in Cairo, in the first week of June.
Over the past years, a number of Egyptian figures have also been awarded the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in the grade of Chevalier.
They include Egyptian novelist and Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, novelist and journalist Gamal El-Ghitani, visual artist and women’s activist Inji Aflatoun, novelist Alaa al-Aswany, theatre director Ahmed El Ettar , composer and conductor Hisham Gabr , producer and scriptwriter Mohamed Hefzy, mezzo soprano Farrah El-Dibany , artist Karima Mansour , among others.
Also the Tunisian-Egyptian actress Hend Sabry is among the recipients of the award in grade of the Commander.
