When remembering Egypt’s former presidents, we usually think of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat, but rarely do we remember the country’s first president Mohamed Naguib. That is, until the opening of a museum at the Pharaonic Village dedicated to his life and work.
The museum displays rarely seen photographs of Naguib – from media archives and from his personal collection – along with some items from his wardrobe and pages from his diary.
Naguib joined the Free Officers movement in the late 40s and shortly after their victory, he was sworn in as Egypt’s first president in 1953. A rift between the leaders of the movement led to Naguib’s resignation in 1954.
Naguib, whose political strategy was different from that of the leaders of the revolution, was banned from the political arena for the rest of his life, and hence, was never given enough acknowledgment in history books. Nasser is often mistakenly referred to as Egypt’s first president
The Mohamed Naguib museum was inaugurated on Wednesday Oct. 24 at the Pharaonic Village in Giza, located next to Anwar Sadat s museum, also in the village.
Here, we finally get to know Naguib on a more personal level through pictures of his childhood, of his wedding, of Naguib with his own children, and of him during the hajj pilgrimage.
Dr Abdel Salam Ragab, chairman of the Pharaonic Village and one of the main founders of the museum indicated to Daily News Egypt that his family was in close relation to late president Naguib and his father is one of key contributors to archival pictures.
In addition, the late president’s family has supplied the museum with the rest of the pictures and along with his clothes as well.
Dr. Ragab believes that the museum will play a significant role in educating the public, and the youth in specific, about the late president who, according to him, “deserves our greatest respect and recognition.
The Pharaonic Village is on Al Bahr Al Aazam Street in Giza, overlooking two sides of the Nile Nile. Despite its name, the village features more than Pharaonic displays, with three separate museums for presidents Naguib, Nasser and Sadat.
