The Italian Cultural Institute in Zamalek, Cairo, dedicated on 8 May an evening to Dalida. Born in 1933 in Cairo in the district of Shubra to Italian parents, Dalida, whose real name was Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, entered the entertainment world in Egypt at a very young age.

She later left Egypt for France, where she adopted the stage name Dalida and had immediate success by the mid-fifties.

Her star rose as a singer and an actress in Italy and Europe. The evening at the Italian Cultural Institute celebrated her extraordinary achievements in music and cinema.  

The evening programme also included a screening of her film "The Sixth Day", directed by well-known auteur Youssef Chahine.  

Moreover, it featured a performance by Elle R – the duo founded by Luisa Russo –  of songs and music as a tribute to the diva, who recorded over 900 songs in ten different languages and sold tens of millions of records.

"The legend of Dalida, the first true Mediterranean global star, grew over time through her voice, capable of evoking emotions beyond linguistic and cultural differences. Moreover, her extraordinary interpretative quality has continued to influence generations of artists worldwide, together with the consolidation of the symbol of an independent woman, despite a destiny marked by deep suffering," commented Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo Davide Scalmani.

Elle R duo pays tribute to diva Dalida at the Italian Cultural Institute

"Few artists have been able to attract the attention of the public as Dalida, the protagonist for three decades of the Italian and international scene," he added.

The Italian Cultural Institute’s tribute to Dalida also marked the launch of the third version of the cultural collaboration programme between the EU and Egypt.

The programme is now managed by the Italian Institute and financed by the European Union; it promotes cultural collaboration between Europe and Egypt by supporting the creative scene, encouraging artistic and cultural exchange, and organizing festivals.