Aiming to support and enrich cultural ties between Egypt and South Africa, Minister of Culture Helmy Namnam decreed an order to send the collection of Naguib Mahfouz’s novels for the library holding his name in the University of Johannesburg, according to state media outlet Al-Ahram.
This comes after the University honoured the prominent novelist in May by establishing a library for his work on its campus and naming one of their buildings after him as a way of accrediting his legacy which enriched the world.
Namnam also asked the Fine Arts Sector to design a large portrait of the novelist to be placed in the building. Mahfouz’s daughter Om Kolthoum agreed to name one of the university’s buildings after her father, through a written statement that was sent to the University of Johannesburg earlier in May.
The sent collection includes 40 of Mahfouz’s most famous artistic novels that were translated, like “Qasr El-Shouk”(The Mansion of Longing) “El-Fajr El-Kazeb”(Lying Dawn). From their side the American University of Cairo also offered 20 copies from its library for 30 other novels for Mahfouz, including “El-les Wel Kelab” (The Thief and the Dogs) and “Bedaya w Nehaya” (A Beginning and an End).
