Books – Abdel Fattah Al-Ajmi:
Today, Wednesday, is the anniversary of the death of one of the most famous theater actors in the twentieth century, the late great comedian Najib Al-Rihani, who passed away on June 8, 1949.
Najib al-Rihani was born on January 21, 1889, in the Bab al-Shaariya neighborhood, to a father of Iraqi Christian Mosuli origin who works in the horse trade. Before he befriended Badi Khairy, who wrote plays for him and became a partner in his artistic life, to present the character “Kashkish Bey” on the stage and succeed in attracting attention to him and then transferring it to the cinema and becoming one of the most important stars in Egypt and pioneers of Arab art.
Many stars who followed him, including:
Farid Shawqi
In a rare interview with the Egyptian TV from inside the Rihani Theater; The late great artist Farid Shawqi said about him: “This theater witnessed the attendance of thousands of people of different affiliations, including ministers, prime ministers and princes, to watch Najib al-Rihani. Kings, and Al-Rihani used to bow to greet the masses for more than 10 minutes a day, later I became his student, and he said that you will be good and offered me to work with him, but my father insisted with love to complete my studies, and I later presented him with about 10 plays, and there is no comparison between us, this The man was ahead of his time.”
Fouad Al Mohandes
The late Fouad Al-Muhandis said about Al-Rihani in an interview with the journalist Moufid Fawzi: “Najib Al-Rihani, this is a story and a phenomenon, and when Anis Mansour said that I surpassed Al-Rihani, it was because he loves me very much, but of course not, Al-Rihani was an author, director, actor, band owner and teacher, in his eyes he was in it. A glint of white, I imagine that this is a glint of genius, Rihani was an extraordinary need and my life began to be fascinated by him, and I never rebelled against my love for Rihani, I resigned with my personality from him but I never rebelled against his style, and I never went out on his cloak, he laid the foundations and we all walked on these grounds.”
Nour El-Sherif
The artist Nour Al-Sharif said about him during his workshop in Kuwait in 2006, in which he lectured on the art of acting; “Naguib Al-Rihani was a legendary actor,” adding: “This man was much ahead of his time, he was a genius.”
Samir Ghanem
And the late artist Samir Ghanem said about him, in an interview with him on the “One of the People” program on “Al-Hayat” satellite channel (November 2017): “I have not seen an actor in my life cross his face like Najib Al-Rihani.. By God, I can see him once, two, three, and more. I previously presented his personality and knew how to answer his voice well.
Mohamed Sobhi
And the artist, Mohamed Sobhi, said about him, during an intervention with the “Here the Capital” program on the “cbc” satellite channel (January 2019): “He is undoubtedly a pioneer of Egyptian art, an essential element in Egypt’s leadership in art in the region, Naguib El-Rihani is not just a school, Al-Rihani can not learn from him, but Rihani made his own voice, this great artist, the great master, was honored that I presented him with my plays (The Set Game) and (Ghazl Al Banat), this man was an artist who felt tenderness and warmth in his face.
Bayoumi Fouad
In July 2020, the artist, Bayoumi Fouad, said that he dreams of presenting the character of Najib Al-Rihani, adding during the “Asrar Al-Nujoum” program on “Nogoum FM” radio: “I don’t know anything about this man’s life purely, but you feel from his style and he makes us laugh that his life is full of events. Even if his life was very simple and ordinary, I am honored to present his character.”
Najeeb Al-Rihani died of typhoid before the release of his latest movie “Ghazl Al Banat”.