Fifi Abdou
Encyclopedia
Fifi Abdou (born Atiyat Abdul Fattah Ibrahim; November 9, 1953) is an Egyptian
belly dance
r and actress. She has been described as "synonymous with belly dancing in the years she was performing." In her acting career, she is known as the woman-empowering type where, rarely in Egyptian culture and film, she beats up and overpowers men.
troupe and later found work as a model.
She began to gain attention in the early 1970s when she became the main attraction at the Arizona. Over the years she danced at many other venues such as Le Meridien, Mena House Oberoi
and the El Gezira Sheraton. Her performances usually lasted around two hours and she received up to $10,000 per performance. In addition to dancing, her routines often included circus tricks and even rapping. The Moroccan newspaper La Vie Eco
reported in 2004 shortly before her retirement that she possessed 5,000 costumes with the most expensive being valued at $40,000.
Abdou has been criticized by some Egyptians who see her dancing as contrary to the tenets of Islam. In 1991, she was charged with "depraved movements" by a Cairo court and sentenced to three months in jail. In 1999, Grand Mufti
Sheik Nasr Farid Wasil issued an edict against her going to Mecca
for hajj
, but eventually retracted it.
In recent years, she has starred in several serial television dramas of the kind that are broadcast throughout the Arab world
during Ramadan
. In 2006, she took the lead in Souq El Khudar (The Greenmarket), playing a headstrong marketwoman with a love interest. For her role in the drama Al Hakika wa Al Sarab she was paid EGP
1 million.
. She is estimated to be one of the wealthiest women in Egypt and is known for her charitable donations to the poor of Cairo. In 1996, she was the victim of a robbery when thieves stole $100,000 in jewelry and cash from her home. In 2003, Abdou filed a complaint against singer Medhat Saleh
for unpaid debts and sued his ex-wife, the actress Shireen, for slander after she accused Abdou of breaking up their marriage.
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
belly dance
Belly dance
Belly dance or Bellydance is a "Western"-coined name for a traditional "Middle Eastern" dance, especially raqs sharqi . It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, or by the Greco-Turkish term çiftetelli...
r and actress. She has been described as "synonymous with belly dancing in the years she was performing." In her acting career, she is known as the woman-empowering type where, rarely in Egyptian culture and film, she beats up and overpowers men.
Early life and career
Abdou was born in Cairo on November 9, 1953. Her father is a policeman and she has 11 siblings. When she was 12 years old she joined a belediBeledi
Baladi is a rhythmic style common in Middle Eastern music, and the associated traditional dance raqs baladi.This is the most common rhythm among music used for oriental dancing, including Arabic pop and...
troupe and later found work as a model.
She began to gain attention in the early 1970s when she became the main attraction at the Arizona. Over the years she danced at many other venues such as Le Meridien, Mena House Oberoi
Mena House Oberoi
The Mena House Oberoi is a luxurious hotel and resort located just outside of Cairo, Egypt and lies at the foot of the famous Pyramid of Cheops. This five star getaway is owned and operated by the Oberoi Group hotel chain...
and the El Gezira Sheraton. Her performances usually lasted around two hours and she received up to $10,000 per performance. In addition to dancing, her routines often included circus tricks and even rapping. The Moroccan newspaper La Vie Eco
La Vie Eco
La Vie Eco is a weekly francophone Moroccan independent newspaper. The newspaper is specialized in economy and finance news.- External links :*...
reported in 2004 shortly before her retirement that she possessed 5,000 costumes with the most expensive being valued at $40,000.
Abdou has been criticized by some Egyptians who see her dancing as contrary to the tenets of Islam. In 1991, she was charged with "depraved movements" by a Cairo court and sentenced to three months in jail. In 1999, Grand Mufti
Grand Mufti
The title of Grand Mufti refers to the highest official of religious law in a Sunni or Ibadi Muslim country. The Grand Mufti issues legal opinions and edicts, fatwā, on interpretations of Islamic law for private clients or to assist judges in deciding cases...
Sheik Nasr Farid Wasil issued an edict against her going to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
for hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
, but eventually retracted it.
In recent years, she has starred in several serial television dramas of the kind that are broadcast throughout the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
during Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
. In 2006, she took the lead in Souq El Khudar (The Greenmarket), playing a headstrong marketwoman with a love interest. For her role in the drama Al Hakika wa Al Sarab she was paid EGP
Egyptian pound
The Egyptian Pound is the currency of Egypt. It is divided into 100 Qirsh , or 1,000 Milliemes ....
1 million.
Personal life
She married five times and has two daughters and one adopted daughter; currently her husband is the ambassador of GreenlandGreenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. She is estimated to be one of the wealthiest women in Egypt and is known for her charitable donations to the poor of Cairo. In 1996, she was the victim of a robbery when thieves stole $100,000 in jewelry and cash from her home. In 2003, Abdou filed a complaint against singer Medhat Saleh
Medhat Saleh
- External links :*...
for unpaid debts and sued his ex-wife, the actress Shireen, for slander after she accused Abdou of breaking up their marriage.
External links
- Fifi Abdou: Egypt's most celebrated belly dancer - performance review on Belly Dance UK.