The Egyptian tourism and antiquities and culture ministers have gathered alongside dozens of artists at the Cairo Opera House on Monday, in an honouring ceremony for the contributors of the successful Golden Parade event, which took place on 3 April.

“The Cairo Opera House is the best place to honour the stars of the parade,” Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Anani stated, hailing the artists and thanking the culture ministry.

The event included a screening of a documentary of some scenes of the unforgettable parade before the ministers handed appreciation certificates and flowers to artists that included actors, singers, musicians, dancers, and others.

“Participating artists have represented a side of Egyptian soft power that confirms the lead of the most ancient civilization on earth,” stated Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem.

Among the honoured artists were conductor Nader Abbassi, composer Hesham Nazih, actresses Youssra and Amina Khalil, DOP Ahmed El-Morsy, soprano Amira Salem, and singer Riham Abdel-Hakim, among tens of others.

The Golden Parade amazed the world. On the first Saturday of April, Egypt moved 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies, including 18 kings and four queens, through the streets of Cairo to their new resting place.

The royal mummies moved from their decades-long residence in the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Egypt’s first Islamic capital, Al-Fustat.

The procession, which dominated headlines and captured the world’s attention, saw the royal mummies transported on the Nile and then accompanied by chariots and horses.

With the country’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi leading the ceremony, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) Zurab Pololikashvili, officials, actors, and other key figures attended the parade.

A convoy of vehicles transporting royal mummies is seen in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 3, 2021. AP

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