Patriotism, Arts, Women Liberation in Egypt's 1919 Revolution

By: Noor El Hoda

CAIRO, Mar.9. (SEE)- Revolution of 1919 was not an epic worthy of celebration just, because it was the beginning of the civil renaissance and a step on the road to self-rule of Egypt and the expulsion of colonialism. The revolt deserved study and reverence for being the starting spark in various aspects of life; especially social as well as the exit of woman from behind the mantle of man to express her opinion and prove her value, in the history of Egyptian art as reported by the writer and historian Rashad Kamel.

The revolution in terms of preparedness, planning and events, especially the results is typical. The most important is the role of Mrs. ''Safia Zaghloul'', the leader of the National Women's Movement during the revolution.. She is credited with the women's contempt for her ideas and national spirit.

She suggested that "Yhayaa Saad'' be written on currency to overshadow the name of the leader Saad Zaghloul, as well as the idea of crescent with the cross, until it became the revolution slogan held by the people in the demonstrations.

Lord Cromer, reported that the people number in the demonstrations was enormous, there is no difference between men and women and it is impossible to distinguish between Muslims and Copts.

The British forged leaflets in the name of Coptic personalities attacking the Islam symbols , they decided to exchange roles in the speech of the Sheikh in the church and the establishment of prayers and Christian sanctities of in the mosques to confirm people's unity.

On the other hand, the artistic renaissance had a large number of the most important names in the art world such as: Umm Kulthum , Mohammed Abd El -Wahab and Hassan Fayek . During the revolt, monologues were provided attacking the occupation and encouraging the public to revolt.

The art played a major role in the revolution, including the national theater performances which were presented at night after days of burning demonstrations and clashes with the British forces, at Najib El- Rihani theater. In addition, the great artist ''Sayed Darwish'', launched the most beautiful national songs, and also sang the name of Saad Zaghloul, when Zaghloul's name was banned.

The best recording of the revolution is Naguib Mahfouz's trilogy. When it turned into a cinematic work, it focused on the image element, highlighting the demonstrations and the spirit of enthusiasm without documentary details around the historical event and its development. However, intellectuals later attacked "Hassan El- Imam'' because he corrupted the novel.

Kamel Rashad reported that art flourishes in an atmosphere of repression and censorship. This appeared after the 1952 revolution, where girls wore the fashion worn by the women of Paris and Europe and no young man dared to harass them.

But there was no opposition, the symbolism appeared in art, and singing and writing was beautiful , but in the atmosphere of absolute freedoms there is no creativity and no real art.

Many Egyptians remember the "quail'', "Autumn and Gossip on the Nile, as well as Mrs. Umm Kulthum in the Gamal Abd El- Nasser era sang El- 'Altalal' and ''Give me freedom I fired my hands''.