Some personalities announce their presence before they even speak. Dr. Gehan Zaki is one of them. For years, her name has resonated in cultural and diplomatic circles, and at the Naguib Mahfouz Museum and Creativity Center, she offered a glimpse into the journey that shaped her extraordinary life.
Zaki carries herself with the poise of someone deeply anchored in her Egyptian roots. “I am Egyptian to the core,” she insists, resisting any attempt to label her otherwise. Her story reflects that conviction—a tapestry woven from discipline, intellect, and a relentless belief in the power of culture.
Born into a home defined by rigor—her father a soldier on the front line and her mother a devoted homemaker—she absorbed early lessons in patriotism and responsibility. At the Sacred Heart schools, she studied foreign languages with distinction but never lost her passion for Arabic, while also memorizing passages of the Qur’an and Hadith. It was this blend of cultural depth and intellectual curiosity that guided her steps.
In 1984, Zaki entered Helwan University’s Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, where her fascination with Egypt’s ancient civilization took hold. She specialized in Egyptology, graduating at the top of her class before pursuing postgraduate studies abroad. These formative years refined both her academic rigor and her sense of Egypt’s enduring place in world history.
Her most prominent chapter came in Rome, where she directed the Egyptian Academy from 2012 to 2019. It was a turbulent era: Egypt’s currency crisis, the Giulio Regeni case, and shifting political currents tested her leadership. Yet Zaki turned adversity into opportunity. She harnessed culture as a diplomatic weapon, creating projects such as the Replica Museum and transforming the academy into a hub of Egyptian presence in Europe. Colleagues dubbed her a “cultural war machine”—a testament to her resilience and vision.
Dr. Gehan Zaki alongside the attendance
To Zaki, cultural diplomacy is not merely soft power; it is “smart power,” a force that penetrates hearts and leaves lasting influence. Her books embody this philosophy, from Cultural Diplomacy: The Origin and the Image to her striking comparisons of icons like Egyptian mystic Qut al-Quloub al-Demerdashiya and French fashion legend Coco Chanel. Her upcoming works explore figures as varied as Marie Antoinette, Shajar al-Durr, and Egyptian women who defied their times.
Her achievements have not gone unnoticed. She has been decorated with the French 'Légion d’honneur' and Italy’s Order of Merit, while also serving in Egypt’s Parliament on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Yet despite such global recognition, Zaki’s identity remains firmly rooted in her homeland.
An insightful dialogue between Sada El-Balad journalist and Dr. Gehan
The evening at the Mahfouz Museum, moderated by writer Tarek El-Taher and attended by leading thinkers and artists, was more than a biography retold. It was a meditation on how one woman has wielded culture as both shield and sword—an elegant battle fought not on battlefields but in minds, hearts, and imaginations.
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