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).
