Suheir Zaki 2002 Interview

I: No, let’s hear it vocally right now: *tala-lam-ta*…

S: *Tra-um*… something like that…

I: Tell us about the charity concerts and the events you held for Al Ahly Club — like when

they won both the Cup and the League title?

S: Yes, I threw a party for them and that dish you saw — it was a tribute to the artist…

Look at that special touch… my own personal touch. I’m actually a Zamalek fan, though

I don’t really follow football anymore — that was back in the day when I used to go to the

stadiums. I’d go to the stadium to watch. So, when Zamalek Club would hold a party, I’d

wear a white outfit. I have fans there, you know — they love me. Then Al Ahly Club would

hold a party and I’d — What was I supposed to do? Wear a red suit? And the party was

being broadcast live on TV — I mean, it was — You’re bringing them joy — it wasn’t about

who won. You’re just making them happy. And they didn’t care about my team

allegiance; they loved me — whether I was Zamalek or Al Ahly, they loved me.

They told me, “It doesn’t matter to us; you’re with us, and we love you.” I said, “I love you

too.” I mean…

And when they played against each other — those beautiful matches — there was

Captain Latif, God rest his soul. His commentary, he used to talk to the ball.

He’d say, “Oh, come on, just go in!” You know, he’d talk to the ball, not the players. “Just

go in, hit the net — please.” I really loved him so much. God rest his soul.

I: As for the current generation — there’s Fifi Abdou, Dina, Lucy, and who else?

S: Well, Fifi is a beautiful Oriental dancer — she performs with the cane and *galabeya*,

and she has such a commanding presence.

She’s got that authentic, real “daughter of the people,” (Bint el Balad) down-to-earth

charm and a great smile. Even when she sings, it’s not bad — she has the talent and the

ability to really energize the stage. Although, she told me that nowadays she doesn’t

dance in nightclubs anymore.

That’s what she told me. She decided to stick to theatre; she told me — yes, she spoke

to me and said, “Suheir, I’ve decided to focus solely on theatre and cinema now.”

I told her, “That was a great decision.” She talked about the atmosphere, encountering

foreigners and all that — you know how it is — and we just chatted and joked around.

But really, Dina is a charming dancer — not bad at all, actually quite good.She’s hardworking and has improved significantly since she started; she’s clearly

gaining experience. But I do have a comment about that white outfit she wears; she

really ought to embrace the traditional costume the authentic Oriental style.

That micro-skirt look, it’s “modern Oriental,” I suppose, but it’s not really the classic

Oriental dance costume. You have to take pride in the costume. Back in the day, we

wore chiffon and satin long outfits with just a subtle slit — nothing like that micro-skirt.

To be honest, it’s not Oriental dance attire at all, no, really, it isn’t.

Still, she’s a dancer, a dear friend, and a beautiful person. She does plays, *Fawazeer*

(TV specials), and so much more — she’s truly multi-talented.

She does theatre and film — she was in the movie *Ibn Ezz* — and she’s active in both

mediums, Dina, that is.

Look, Raja (Dina), we just want an Oriental-style suit — it shouldn’t be entirely modern.

I: I believe the best person to ever wear the dance costume the oriental style, was

Soheir Zaki. I couldn’t possibly wear it myself — Soheir, I’m talking to you — because

you were the most beautiful the best-looking one in that style.

S: Dina is incredibly intelligent, too; she’s even studying, I heard she started her master’s

degree and finished University. I really admire her keen intelligence — balancing all of

that together, and mashallah, she has a son — I think — mashallah, he’s absolutely

adorable. She showed me his picture. She was hesitant to reveal it. We were on a

program together, and she showed me his photo and he is just gorgeous — mashallah,

God is great, may He protect him. She told me she was keeping him out of the spotlight,

and I said, “Fine, keep him hidden”.

I did the same thing when I had Hamada — my son, Hamada. I used to hide him too.

Photographers wanted to create stories and take pictures of him. It wasn’t until he was a

bit older and started walking, that, well, every week you’d find photos of Hamada and

me in all the weekly magazines and newspapers with stories about what he was doing

and all that.

I: But you got married young, didn’t you?

S: Yes. And getting married young is a way to stay away from trouble and rumours, and to

have someone by your side. You see, the number of admirers had really started to grow

as well. I did a movie, and in it, I met Mr. Mohamed Emara, my husband. He was just

starting out in cinema; he’s a cinematographer now and he works on a lot of projects.

He’s involved in all aspects of the industry.

It was meant to be; we fell in love. But, of course, there was opposition from both sides— from me, 

from him, and from his family.

I: His family objected, and your family objected. So, why did they object, 

and why did you?

S: [Laughs] I mean, they wanted well, Mom would say to me, “Look, Dear, You are just

starting out in life, (I was 21), with your whole future ahead of you. You are just beginning

to make a name for yourself with the movies and TV . We were just getting started. So,

she’d say, “Just wait a bit, there’s no rush,” and so on.

I told them no. And regarding Mohamed, at his home, they’d say, “Just wait a while, son;

you’ve just graduated… why not look for an actress. Did it *have* to be a dancer?” You

know how it is [laughs]. Anyway, time proved that the heart wants what it wants. What

can you do?

I: The heart wants what it wants. Truly. And time proved to both families that you were a

wonderful woman and he was a kind, good man. And thank God, now so your family

grew to love him?

S: Yes.

I: And his family?

S: They loved me so much. You have no idea. They’d call to check on me, invite me over.

I’d visit them, and they’d come to us.

I: But who was your role model among those who came before you?

S: I loved, well, who did I love? In terms of dancing, who did I love? I loved Naima Akef,

for instance and Samia Gamal. You might be surprised, but I really loved Fairouz when

she first appeared.

I: Hmm, the young Fairouz?

S: Yes, the young one.

We congratulate her, as she received an honour this year. I say, “A thousand

congratulations; you truly deserve even more than this,” because we all admired her so

much.

She was truly a unique phenomenon — one of a kind. She certainly deserved the award;

in fact, she should have received it long ago.

I used to watch her movies, and I even styled my hair exactly like hers. If you saw me,

you’d say I looked exactly like Fairouz.

I: You do resemble her from when she was young.

S: Yes, really. I forgot to bring the photo — my hairstyle was just like hers. If you saw me,

you’d say, “It’s Fairouz!” . My hair was so lovely back then.

I: What songs of hers did you love?

S: I loved her dancing. There was that movie where she imitated all the dancers, it was

incredible! She imitated everyone, even Badia Masabni who was the choreographer

behind all those dances.

She was a phenomenon, too, truly a phenomenon. And for all that her voice was high-

pitched, she still delivered an exceptional performance. [Laughter] She really delivered.

She’d wear a traditional *galabeya* and imitate Shokoko and Abdel Muttalib —

Mashallah, truly If only we could find.

I: She is someone who won’t be replicated.

S: No, of course not. There are some artists who will never be replicated.

I: You had very fierce competition with Nagwa Fouad, didn’t you?

S: Yes, of course.

I: You came from Alexandria and arrived right when she was active here.

S: Yes, I came right when she was here. I arrived, and there was another dancer named

Nahed Sabry, yes, Nahed Sabry. So, naturally, intense competition arose between me

and her.

We each had our own distinct style. There was an event at the Balloon Theatre, right

when it first opened. Sout Al-Arab (Voice of the Arabs) was hosting a concert there. I

wanted to go on early because I had five or six wedding gigs to attend.

She wanted to go on before me, too. So, she put on her costume, stood right there, and

positioned her two assistants behind her, holding the cymbals.

I stood on the other side, wearing my costume, with my assistants standing there, you

know how it is, the usual scene.

The Sout Al-Arab announcer was in a real bind; he didn’t know who to introduce. He kept

talking into the device in his hand, speaking to the radio crew downstairs, the ones

sitting there with all the broadcasting equipment, saying, “Help us out! We’ve got a

problem on stage: Soheir Zaki is in costume with her band ready, and Nagwa is in

costume with her band ready. Who do I send out first?” .

I had a huge amount of work because I was a newcomer, and everyone wanted to see

me. I told myself, “Come on, girl, show some grit.” I decided to let her go on first, to show

some sportsmanship. I wasn’t afraid; I had plenty of work, so I didn’t mind waiting for myturn. Of course, they were going to separate our acts, she’d perform, then I would. I

thought, “Well, I’m not the one losing out.” So, I let her go on, took my band, and left. But

it was quite a situation. You should have seen the presenter, poor guy, and Sama. But

later on, after a long time, we became friends.

You see, Abdel Halim Hafez, may he rest in peace, had a musical ensemble led by

Maestro Ahmed Fouad Hassan, may he rest in peace, too.

It was the *Al-Massiya* Orchestra. At the time, there was a potential engagement

brewing between him and Nagwa, so Abdel Halim wanted to support Maestro Ahmed

Fouad Hassan. Whenever he had a concert, and he was the star, of course, you’d see

the likes of Nagwa, dancers, and Lelbleba, for instance, performing monologues and

doing vocal impressions, as well as Ahmed Ghanem, may he rest in peace. It was a

lineup featuring Nagwa, Abdel Halim, Fayza, Warda, Sabah, Shadia, the whole group

had to be there.

The program had to include a dancer, a monologue artist, and so on, it was all part of the

show. So, Abdel Halim would have my name crossed off the list whenever the television

station was broadcasting a live concert featuring him. He would have my name removed

and replace it with Nagwa Fouad. I got wind of this.

At the time, there was a variety show called *Layl al-Qahira* (Cairo Night). The Variety

Department manager asked me, “Soheir, what is going on between you and Abdel

Halim?” I told him, “Honestly, Sir, there is nothing at all. On the contrary, I keep to myself.

You see me come in, get dressed, go on stage, and then go straight from the stage to my

car to rush to the next gig.” So, I spoke to my band, you know, the guys, like Sharaf

Mohamed Ali and the rest. They started digging around for information and they found

out: “We know now why you’re getting bumped from the schedule — it’s because Abdel

Halim is going to be there.”

I asked, “Why?” They said, since there were a few people named Ahmed Fouad Hassan,

that out of courtesy to Ahmed Fouad Hassan, they would tell him, “No, include Nagwa,”

because the concert was being broadcast live back in the days of radio and television.

So, I met with Abdel Halim, you see, and I said, “Now I understand; I used to think you

disliked me, but I know now that you actually like me. You were just doing that out of

courtesy”.

I: Did you perform any charity concerts abroad, in Paris? Tell me about that. What did

you do at the embassy?

S: At our embassy in Paris? I organized a gala for the Al-Wafaa wal-Amal [Loyalty and

Hope] Association, supporting people with disabilities, the sick, and so on. They

commissioned me to do it, so I travelled there.

I: So, you went to put on a show for Al-Wafaa wal-Amal? Meaning the proceeds would go

toward charity. People really have to appreciate you for that, of course. Look at theprestige, the car, the cold weather, the embassy, and the media coverage, the Egyptian

Embassy.

S: Honestly, Mr. Mamdouh, these are moments in my life I will never forget.

I: It makes you feel like your work really mattered — that you weren’t just…

S: And then, for instance, I performed at Abdeen Palace, I actually entered Abdeen

Palace. I remember, while riding in the car, I asked him — You know, the US President

was visiting Egypt, I don’t recall the exact details, and I was working late,

driving in the car, and I said to him, “Is it really possible, Dear, that I might dance in front

of President Nixon, say, at Koubbeh Palace or somewhere? I’d love that. I really wish it

would happen, Dear”

. He said, “Well, if there is, they usually invite your father to these

events, so…” And thank God, the very next day, the Presidency called me. They said, “We

want you, and the Reda Troupe, too.” It was during the early days of satellite

broadcasting, when it was just starting to beam things out to the entire world.

There was an incredible amount of press and media coverage, journalists from all over

the globe, as well as our own Egyptian media. I suddenly got an idea. I thought, “With the

satellite broadcasting everything” I wondered, “What if I just jumped right out in front of

the presidents?” — Nixon, Sadat, Kissinger, the foreign ministers, the Prime Ministers,

and all the country’s top officials. It was taking place in the gardens of Koubbeh Palace,

where a stage had been set up. So, I jumped out, and suddenly I was facing the

American security detail, you know, the ones standing there with their guns drawn like

this.

THE INTERVIEW GETS CUT HERE……