Naima Akef HQ
Her Life: Naima Akef HQ
Naima Akef presented the Art of dancing, singing, monologue and acting like no other. She made millions of people happy and had little luck in this world. They married twice and had one child. She became an icon because she loved life, the circus, and Art. She significantly contributed to Egyptian Art during her active years. Unfortunately, having left this world too soon, we miss out on her genius and future creations. However, her legacy is very much alive and will be for generations.
Born in Tanta to a family of acrobats and animal trainers, Naima performed regularly from an early age. It was clear for all to see that she was born with star quality that shinned very bright.
Most film directors frequented the Akef circus, and Naima was spotted during her performances there. As a result, she was invited to appear in 3 films released in 1948 and 1949. One was Ah Ya Harami here, alongside Anwar Wagdi, and another was Sitt El Beit by Director Ahmed Kamel Morsi, where Naima was cast as a dancer. Around that time, she met Director Hussein Fawzy, who realized her potential and invited him to co-star in his movie Aish wal Malh.
From there on, Hussein contracted Naima and monopolized her presence in the films he directed for Nahas. She followed on to star in films like Lahalibo, Baladi wa Khefa, Baba Areess, Furigat, Fataat El Sirkus, El Namr, Janna Wa Nar, Tamr Henna and many others. They collaborated on 15 films and were married for ten years. It is clear that Hussein understood and valued Naima’s circus background by making films with roles that allowed her to present her roots and showcase her talents.
Naima Akef HQ
Because Naima participated in various fields of production in addition to her travels, jealousy arose in the heart of Hussein Fawzi, leading to the end of their marriage. They divorced in 1958, and a year after, she married the accountant Salah El-Din Abdel Alim. Having met him when she went to his office for legal advice, he became responsible for her contracts and financial commitments. Naima’s life changed after her second marriage.
Naima’s life changed after her second marriage. At the same time, her first husband allowed her to appear in a dance costume at parties, nightclubs, and on screen. Salah’s first act was to confiscate her costumes.
However, Naima Akef continues to act in many other films until 1964.
In 1966, she suffered from her health and was taken to hospital with bleeding in her abdomen. She returned home after over a month in the hospital. But the disease returned to her, and she decided to travel for treatment abroad at the state’s expense. Unfortunately, her health did not allow that. Her condition suddenly and seriously deteriorated, and she did not recover. At 37 years old, she passed away.
Art legacy
When she was four years old, her father wanted to teach her the art inherited by family members, but she did not show willingness. He resorted to a trick that made her learn the first principles in a few days. Instead of teaching her, he guided her older sister to new movements in front of her, and he encouraged her sister. At the same time, he criticizes her for being weak and unfit for work like her sister. Feeling jealous of the attention and unhappy with the lack of praise, she learned the principles of aerobatics in a few days.
After several weeks, she surpassed her sister and became the family star. She filled the stage with talent when she was barely 4.
She was old enough to roll around and sing and impress the audience of peasants who were watching her. At the age of six, encouraged by her success with the crowd, she demanded a salary from her father. She threatened to offer her art to other circuses if he did not comply. Her father’s response was not pleasant. The next day, she collected her belongings and set out in the streets without guidance. Some circus customers met her and knew she was a fugitive from her family.
Naima's story with the breaker
Ali Al -Kassar, the great late Egyptian comedian, had heard about street acrobats, He offered Naima twelve pounds a month to have her and her sisters work in his band. A girl called Tishchi recited monologues and performed Tap dance. She was a gorgeous girl, and she highly praised her talent. Naima wanted the same praise and decided to learn Tap dance and recite monologues.
Eager to learn, Naima went to a dance coach, but she couldn’t afford his fees. She then decided to teach herself.
One day she took advantage of Tishchi’s absence and entered her room and took the shoes. Amazed by the metal in this shoe, she put it on her feet and began to imitate the dance. Finally, after two hours of continuous training, she learned it. She took the shoes with her to a shoemaker and asked him to put similar metal plates in her shoes.
The next day she put the shoes back in their place and started training with her boots. After a week, she went to Badia Masabni and asked her to allow her to perform Tap dance. Hesitantly, Badia allowed her. However, she was not convinced. When Naima finished the dance, Badiah applauded her warmly with the audience.
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Unusual fan
Naima received much admiration from her fan as well as gifts. Most of these gifts were Ballerina music boxes. She loved them, and so whenever she collected an amount of money, she would use it to buy more of them.
When she was fourteen years old, her father’s circus used to perform in Tanta during the celebration of the birth of the Bedouin Master, Mr El-Badawy Shehata, head of the Egyptian Wafd Party for al-Sayyid Ahmad al-Badawi.
Naima noticed a well-off rural man who seemed to be necessary. He seemed keen and attended her shows every night, exaggeratedly applauding her. His admiration was beyond the appropriate limit, especially since no man was allowed to contact the females of the circus.
One night, Naima was surprised by a rural woman asking to meet her and presenting her with an elegant box and said: “Sir Al-Bayah bought you this gift.” Of course, Naima could not refuse the gift, and she was so happy when she opened the box and found a music box with five different Muftah (keys, instrument of joy). Whenever she turned one of the Muftah, beautiful oriental music played, and the ballerina danced a beautiful dance to it.
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Sania Shekaboom
Naima heard from people at the time that the best dancer in all of Egypt was Sania Shekaboom, so she called her music box ballerina “Sheka Boom”. When alone, she would imitate her dance, and thus she learned to dance. One time, as she danced with the music box, her father observed her while she was dancing and Shekaboom in front of her playing music and swaying to the tunes. At that moment, he took out his pistol and shot the music box, destroying it.
Days passed, and Naima moved with the circus from one city to another, and one day the police surrounded her family members from all sides. The gambling father appeared to have lost everything, including the mortgaged circus with its equipment and tools.
Cairo welcomed the mother and her four daughters, and they passed through the streets, somersaulting in astounding acrobatics to earn a few pennies. During this period, Naima was the saviour who kept the ghost of hunger away from the family. Naima applied to work with her mother and sisters in the performance halls. They opened their arms for them on the condition that they take advantage of their femininity, but the mother refused and preferred starvation.
Moscow 1957
In 1953, she married the famous director Hussein Fawzi, lived in a luxury villa, owned a car, had a balance in the bank and spoke three languages. She became an accomplished artist and financially comfortable.
In 1956, Zaki Tulaimat, an actor, author, director, and one of the pioneers of the Egyptian theatre, chose her as the lead for the Folklore Ensemble, in the only work presented by this band. The operetta was titled “ Ya Leil, Ya Ain,” written by Yahya Haqqi.
In September 1956, Naima travelled with the Egyptian delegation to China to perform the operetta. In July 1957, she travelled to Moscow for the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students. Thirty-four thousand young people from 131 countries attended the event. Naima Akef, part of the Egyptian delegation and Mahmoud Reda, performed her dance show: The first Castle Massacre, the second Andalusian Dance, and the third Aziza.
Moscow, USSR, July 1957. The 6th World Festival of Youth and Students. Thirty-four thousand young people from 131 countries attended the event. Naima Akef was part of the Egyptian delegation along with Mahmoud Reda and performed her dance show with the orchestra for the Soviet people and delegates from around the world.
Naima Akef HQ
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