On Monday, 8 May 2023, the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo, headed by cultural Director Davide Scalmani, organized a special celebration to commemorate the death of the international artist “Dalida”, who passed away 36 years ago in France on May 3, 1987. The event attracted many attendees who gathered to pay tribute to the legendary singer and actress.
The Italian Cultural Institute screened the film “The Sixth Day” by Youssef Chahine, which starred Dalida, Mohsen Mohieddin, Shweikar, Hamdi Ahmed, Salah Al-Saadani, Sanaa Younes, Abla Kamel, and Muhammad Mounir. The movie was released in 1968 and tackled the cholera epidemic that hit Egypt in the 1940s.
The event also featured a concert by the singer Luisa Russo, who performed some of the most beautiful Italian songs, including “Salameh Ya Salama” by Dalida.
The Italian Cultural Center in Cairo is one of the official bodies of the State of Italy, and it serves as the cultural office of the Italian Embassy in Cairo. Its main objective is to promote and spread Italian culture in Egypt by organizing cultural celebrations in collaboration with other cultural institutions.
Apart from hosting events like the one dedicated to Dalida, the Italian Cultural Center in Cairo also offers information about Italian culture and the Italian university education system. The Institute also provides Italian language courses and maintains continuous contact with the Italian language departments in five Egyptian universities.
Moreover, the Italian Cultural Center in Cairo coordinates its activities with Italian cultural institutes in the Mediterranean and African regions, including Damascus, Beirut, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Rabat, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Pretoria. This collaboration enables the exchange of cultural projects and the organization of joint cultural events.
In conclusion, the Italian Cultural Center in Cairo is an excellent platform for promoting Italian culture and strengthening cultural ties between Italy and Egypt. The celebration held in honor of Dalida is a testament to the center’s commitment to preserving the memory of iconic figures and promoting cultural diversity.
