Association of Friends of the Artist Muhammad Fawzi

First of associations specialized in reviving the artistic tradition in the Arab Republic of Egypt

Established by the noted artist, Salah al-Shami, on 19th of November, 1979, and announced on 28th of February, 1980 (#2716)

Goals of the association:

  1. To revive the artistic, musical, and vocal heritage of the great, late musician, the noted artist Muhammad Fawzi.
  2. To publicize artistic and musical  culture; to discover talented youth, promote them, and train them on a sound basis
  3. To establish a club for training children, and implant concepts of artistic and musical taste in the field of their talents, in order to produce a generation qualified to  participate in the enriching of the artistic renaissance, whose principles were established by the eternally great musician, Muhammad Fawzi…etc.

 

Activities of the association:

Despite modest means, and the Association’s shortage of material support – so important for financing its projects – the determination of the association’s president and its administrative council to  realize its goals and to carry out its mission (drawing upon their personal resources, and thereby exemplifying the highest example of devotion to the external art) has presented more than twenty children with refined training, equipped with the most famous  and beautiful children songs, composed and sung by the great musician Muhammad Fawzi. These songs include: “Mama zamanha gayya”, “Kaana wa inna”, “Dhahab al-Layl”. Other songs include those of chorales and operettas, and religious and Ramadan songs, in whose performance they  participated during public concerts and for other organizations, such as Egyptian Radio and Television.   *

Similarly, the president of the Association notified most artistic schools and institutions and cultural leaders of its projects.  Despite modest material means and the absence of a fixed headquarters, the Association and its president joined with their members, and artists in many occasions—national and public—as well as yearly Radio and TV events.  Through massive efforts,  Association also managed to have a  commemorative postage stamp featuring Muhammad Fawzi issued by the Post Office. It is hoped that this commemoration will stir the official artistic organizations to hold annual celebrations for the great musician  Muhammad Fawzi.

As for the Association, despite its participation in this commemoeration, also celebrates his memory all year long. Tokens of the Association’s esteem are given to artists, poets, and important persons, in all the artistic milieux. For example, the Association has given a Certificate of Appreciation to ‘Amar al-Shari`i, Samir  Sabri, Muhammad  Tharwat, Ahmad Ibrahim, ‘Ali al-Haggar, Madhat Salih, to poets Salah Fayiz, Tariq Fu’ad, Wajdi al-Jafi; to former Media Minister Muhammad Mustafa,  to Zayn Nassar, Professor at the Academy of the Arts; to  the great radio personality Nadia Tawfiq, the great musician Hilmy Bakr, conductor Salim Sahhab, the critic Tariq  al-Shinnawi, and others.

 

 

The president of the Association thanks representatives in its administrative council, and all its members in Cairo and  Tanta, including the governor and minister, Dr. Fathi Sa`d, for his paraticipation and patronage, and success in reviving the artistic heritage of Muhammad Fawzi, a son of Tanta, and for his  generous promise to name the local Tanta theater after Muhammad Fawzi.  We appeal to the head of the General Organization for Cultural Palaces to encourage and participate in reviving the heritage of the artist Muhammad Fawzi, and hope that his Honor will urge those responsible for supporting the Association in the Ministry of Culture to issue  a decision to provide material support, in order that the activities of the Association towards guiding and protecting art and artists may flourish.

Appreciation from official organizations:

-         Certificate of appreciation from University of Minya

-         Certificate of appreciation from the Association of Christian Youth

-         Certificate of appreciation from the Association of Kamal al-Mallah (Kamal al-Shinnawi, president)

 

(signed)

Salah al-Shami, president of the Association

Telephone:  

2 02 425 5012

2 012 277 4250 (mobile)

 

Muhammad ‘Abd al-Wahhab, advisor for artistic, cultural, and media issues