Photographers have captured the stars of Egypt’s golden age of performing arts in a new series titled Egypt Through the Lens. This four-part series showcases how photographers documented the modern history of Egypt over 150 years, including its kings, presidents, politics, conflicts, and cinema. The final episode focuses on the golden age of musical and screen performances in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
Photojournalist Samir Ghazouli recalls meeting iconic Egyptian artists such as Umm Kulthum, who sometimes disliked how she appeared in photographs due to a thyroid condition and would buy the original negatives to destroy them. Another famous singer, Abdel Halim Hafez, battled a terminal illness in his prime and carefully managed his public image by releasing selected photos that showed his personal struggles.
The photographers involved in the project speak fondly of the personalities they encountered and how their photos of these stars, who were renowned throughout the Arab world, capture a sense of immortality. The series offers a glimpse into a bygone era of Egyptian entertainment and pays tribute to the cultural significance of these beloved performers.
Egypt Through the Lens provides a unique perspective on the country’s history and cultural heritage through the eyes of talented photographers who have documented its most celebrated performers. This series serves as a visual record of Egypt’s past and a reminder of the enduring legacy of its performing arts icons.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com