The Opening of “Nora’s Sister: Freedom of Expression” Seminar
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Alexandria — The BA in cooperation with the Norwegian Embassy in Cairo organized a celebration on 29-30 October marking the centennial of the Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen. The celebration featured an exhibition for statutes and manuscripts related to Henrik Ibsen entitled “Ibsen’s Women” and a seminar entitled “Nora’s Sister- Freedom of Expression”. Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria opened “Nora’s Sister- Freedom of Expression” seminar on 30 of October. The seminar was attended by Anne Stenhammer, Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ida Hjelde, Research Council of Norway, and Unni Wikan, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo.
Dr. Serageldin started his speech by explaining the concept of creativity as a source of life, and stressed that honoring cultural figures is part of appreciating their works that draft the cultural system of the human civilization. He stated that Ibsen was the only Norwegian writer who surpassed his country’s boundaries and his language and became an international writer renowned in cultural and artistic circles worldwide. Ibsen was the founder of the social realistic approach in theater in the modern ages.
Mrs. Anne Stenhammer, Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Ibsen in all his works called for moderation and rejected extremism in every aspect. The opening session also included the presentation of gift of books to the BA by the Research Council of Norway on women issues, freedom, and social equity.