Huda Naguib Mahfouz: “I dedicated the museum over 1000 books”

CAIRO - 15 July 2019: Huda Naguib Mahfouz (Umm Kulthum) expressed her happiness with the opening of the museum of her late father, the Nobel winning writer Naguib Mahfouz.

The museum is located in Tkeit Abu el-Dahab in Al Azhar district. The daughter of the late novelist thanked the Ministry of Culture and the current and former officials for their efforts to bring the museum to light.

“I am very happy with the place,” said Mahfouz. The daughter of the legendary writer further stated that she dedicated 1000 books to the Ministry of Culture. The books held the signature of her father, or were dedicated to him.

Mahfouz also dedicated to the ministry some of the awards and honorings he received during his lifetime, his personal office and a few of his personal belongings such as his glasses, his headset and some of his clothes, among others.

Mahfouz further stated that she was worried about losing her dad’s personal belongings, especially after the difficult circumstances the country faced following the January revolution.

Mahfouz explained that she felt reassured after watching the personal belongings of her father displayed in a dazzling way in the museum. The minister of culture was promised by Mahfouz that she will dedicate her father’s last coat to the museum in the near future.

“He (Naguib Mahfouz) did not expect to be given a museum, and such an idea never crossed his mind. My dad was ascetic," stated Huda Mahfouz.

Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem honored Umm Kulthum with the ministry's shield and a certificate of appreciation. This came during the official opening of Naguib Mahfouz Museum, in the presence of a large number of diplomats, ambassadors and representatives of States, in addition to a group of officials from the Ministry of Culture and prominent public figures.

Naguib Mahfouz Museum consists of two floors, the first hosts halls for seminars, a visual/ sound library, a public library and a library of critical research, including the most important researches and studies on the work of Naguib Mahfouz.

The second floor includes a suite of decorations and certificates obtained by the late writer, and another for his personal belongings with some papers written in his own handwriting, in addition to the Hall of Literature, which includes all the works of Naguib Mahfouz in their old and new prints, along with all the writer’s translated works next to a cinema hall and several other halls.