Christos Papadopoulos was born in Thessaloniki. He holds a BA in Education (Special Education) and an MSc in Creative Writing. He is a certified teacher of Greek as a foreign language and has training in cultural unit management.
He is a member of the Correspondents Union of the Greek Overseas Press. He has written lyrics for around 150 songs, as well as the book-CD The Wing of the Dragon (13 musical fairy tales for children), Wildlife Care Center, the allegorical book The Tale of the Square Logic, and the poetry collection The Language of Escape.
Since 2007, he has lived in Cairo, where he served as Director of the Greek Cultural Center from 2010 to 2023. Following his retirement, he writes articles and produces and presents the programme Once a Cairo, broadcast three times a week on the European Programme of Egyptian Radio.
Ahram Online (AO): Your songs are performed across Greece. What central themes run through your work?
Christos Papadopoulos (CP): My songs are my children, and it gives me great joy to see them embraced. My professional identity can be distilled into four words: Greek language, literature, history, and culture. My creative expression unfolds almost entirely within their shared boundaries.
AO: How have your Greek heritage and your long experience in Egypt shaped your artistic voice?
CP: I have spent nearly half of my adult life in Cairo. Even when it is not immediately visible in my work, it remains one of its formative forces. I now belong to two homelands: the one of my origin and the one my heart chose. I often say that I am a Greek-Egyptian (Egyptiotis) by choice.
AO: The Greek community in Egypt has a profound history. How does this background manifest in your poetry and songwriting?
CP: In fact, the history of the Greek communities of Egypt and its reflection in literature and the press was among the reasons that brought me here. My admiration for the poet Constantine Cavafy was equally influential, as well as the authors Tsirkas and Lawrence Durrell. I arrived in Egypt inspired by the deep attachment of Kostis Moskov, who served as cultural attaché at the Greek Embassy in Cairo for a decade in the 1990s, and whose passion for this land left a lasting impression on me.
AO: You have also worked extensively on documenting this legacy. What drives this effort?
CP: This dimension of my identity has led me to engage deeply with the history of the Greek communities of Egypt. Over the years, I have built a modest yet significant personal archive of books, printed material, and Greek-language newspapers published in Egypt, from the late 19th century to the great exodus of the 1960s. I write extensively on this subject, and many of these themes find their way into my radio broadcasts. I aim to highlight and preserve the legacy of the Greeks of Egypt and their contribution to both Greece and Egypt.
AO: As a radio presenter, what is the enduring value of radio today?
CP: Radio is, in essence, a form of magic. The bond between broadcaster and listener is uniquely intimate. In earlier times, that magic was even more powerful, as the voice existed without an image. Today, social media has diminished that mystery.
AO: How do you use radio as a platform to support Greek culture?
CP: Together with my colleagues, I aspire to transform the Greek-language programme of the European Programme of Egyptian Radio into a vibrant and refreshing platform. It is intended not only for Greeks currently living in Egypt, but also for the wider Greek diaspora born in Egypt, for Greeks who feel a deep connection to this country, and for Egyptians who speak Greek. It is a space for news, storytelling, cultural reflection, and above all, music.
AO: What is the most important idea you hope to convey to your audience?
CP: Radio today is a universally accessible medium, reaching audiences anywhere in the world. It uniquely combines information with entertainment. Egyptian Radio has long honored the Greek community by providing airtime, and this partnership continues to evolve. Recognizing the enduring power of radio, the Greek Ambassador to Egypt, Nikolaos Papageorgiou, in collaboration with Egyptian Radio leadership, has expanded the Greek-language broadcasts.
Today, there is a daily programme from 12 midday to 1 pm, as well as a two-hour Friday broadcast during prime morning hours, from 7 am to 9 am. Our goal is to earn the trust of our listeners, day by day. At the same time, we aim to build a valuable archive of recorded programmes: interviews and historical features.
AO: What are you currently working on?
CP: I am currently preparing two poetry collections for publication, along with my postgraduate thesis on metrics in Greek song, as well as new contributions to Greek discography.
AO: What are your hopes for the future of Greek literature and music internationally?
CP: I hope that Greek literature and music continue to travel beyond national borders while remaining rooted in their language and history. Their strength lies precisely in this balance between identity and openness.
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