Fifi Abdou
Fifi Abdou | |
|---|---|
| Born | Atiyat Abdul Fattah Ibrahim April 26, 1953 Cairo, Egypt |
| Occupation(s) | Belly dance performer, actress |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Known for | Quintessential figure representing belly dancing in Egypt |
Fifi Abdou (, , born Atiyat Abdul Fattah Ibrahim (), ; April 26, 1953) is a renowned Egyptian belly dance performer and actress. She has often been regarded as the quintessential figure representing belly dancing during her active years.
Early life and career
Atiyat Abdul Fattah Ibrahim, known professionally as Fifi Abdou, was born in Cairo on April 26, 1953. Her father worked in law enforcement, and she grew up with 11 siblings. Among them, her brother Abdelraheem Abdul Fattah Ibrahim played a significant role in supporting her artistic pursuits. Beginning at the age of 12, she became part of a baladi dance ensemble and subsequently pursued modeling. Abdou rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the headline performer at the Arizona nightclub and later showcased her talents at prestigious locations such as Le Meridien, Mena House, and the El Gezira Sheraton. Her shows typically lasted around two hours, commanding fees that could reach $10,000 per engagement. Her acts were notable for incorporating elements like circus stunts and rapping. By 2004, just before her retirement, she reportedly amassed a wardrobe of approximately 5,000 costumes, with some pieces valued up to $40,000.
Throughout her career, Abdou encountered opposition from certain segments of Egyptian society who considered her dance style incompatible with Islamic principles. In 1991, she was prosecuted by a Cairo court on charges related to "immoral movements" and received a three-month prison sentence. Furthermore, in 1999, the Grand Mufti Sheik Nasr Farid Wasil issued a religious ruling that prohibited her from undertaking the hajj pilgrimage; however, this decree was subsequently withdrawn.
During the 1980s, Abdou expanded her career into Egyptian cinema by taking on supporting roles alongside prominent actors such as Salah Zulfikar, Ahmed Zaki, and Yousra. More recently, she has appeared in television dramas aired throughout the Arab world during Ramadan. In 2006, she starred in Souq El Khudar (The Greenmarket), playing a determined market vendor. Her performance in Al Hakika wa Al Sarab earned her critical acclaim. Additionally, she featured in a Ramadan series in 2014 alongside her brother Abdelraheem and took part in the 2019 Ramadan drama Kingdom of Gypsies.
Personal life
Fifi Abdou has been married five times and is mother to two biological daughters as well as one adopted daughter. One of her daughters, Azza Mujahid, is an actress who has a daughter named Quisha Mujahid. Abdou's spouse holds the position of ambassador to Greenland. She is recognized as one of Egypt's wealthiest women and is noted for her philanthropic efforts benefiting impoverished communities in Cairo. In 1996, her residence was burglarized with losses amounting to $100,000 in jewelry and cash. In 2003, Abdou lodged legal complaints against singer Medhat Saleh over unpaid financial obligations and initiated a defamation lawsuit against his former wife, actress Shireen Saif, following allegations concerning their marital status.
Selected filmography
- 1990: One Woman is not Enough
- 1993: Minister in Plaster
External links
- Fifi Abdou: Egypt's most celebrated belly dancer - performance review on Belly Dance UK.