The gathering, held under the auspices of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in Cairo (GAAF), brought together diplomats, officials, academics and artists from the Francophone community in Egypt.
Attendees included Fatma Etman Zaraa, personal representative of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for Francophonie, and Amr El-Sherbiny, assistant foreign minister for multilateral affairs and international security, along with ambassadors and representatives from around 20 countries, including Canada, France, Romania, and several African and European nations.
The event was also supported by the French Institute and the French Embassy in Cairo.
The event also marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of renowned Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși.
The evening featured a dual tribute to Brâncuși, a Franco-Romanian artist regarded as a pioneer of modernism. Outside the embassy, railings were transformed into an open-air gallery displaying replicas of his most iconic works. Inside, an exhibition turned mirrors into frames to showcase pieces by 21 contemporary artists from the Inter Art Foundation AIUD, each inspired by Brâncuși's minimalist aesthetic.
Speaking at the iftar, the Romanian Ambassador to Egypt, Olivia Toderean, described the partnership between Romania and France as "exceptional."
Ambassador Toderean highlighted Romania's role as the seventh-largest contributor to the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), and reaffirmed her country's commitment to building a "vibrant and lasting bond" with Egypt.
"Brâncuși is both a Franco-Romanian figure and a global Francophone icon," Toderean said, inviting guests to let his art inspire the same "openness and encounter of cultures" that defines the Francophone world today.
"I warmly invite you to discover them this evening and to let Brâncuși's art, like the Francophonie itself, inspire us to dream, exchange ideas, and come together," she added.
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