Armenians of Cairo

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The Armenian presence in Egypt goes back to the 6th-7th centuries. However, the modern-day Armenian community in the country was shaped in the 19th century, during the rule of Muhammad Ali, when Armenians were brought to involve them in the process of building up of the state’s institutions and cultural life, much like how Ottoman sultans and Persian shahs did in their empires.

The largest proportion of Armenians arrived in Egypt after the Genocide. The size of the population in 1917 was estimated to be 12,854 while in 1927 it rose to 17,188. Estimates for the population before 1952 reach almost 40,000, mostly concentrated in the cities of Cairo and Alexandria. A large proportion emigrated, mostly to the West, in the aftermath of the Revolution in 1952 and when Gamal Abdel Nasser came to power. Currently, the estimated number of Armenians in Egypt is about 5,000.

The majority of Armenians who arrived around the time of the Genocide initially settled in the heart of Cairo. The Bein el-Sourain and Darb el-Guenena areas, which were considered to be Armenian areas in the first half of the 20th century. Gradually, Armenians began to move towards the suburbs after they had already established their businesses and institutions in the central areas. Armenians moved to areas such as Heliopolis, Nozha, Maadi, and Helwan. Heliopolis is considered to be the main hub for Armenians in Cairo.

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) was established in Cairo in 1906 by Boghos Nubar, the son of the first Prime Minister of Egypt, Nubar Pasha. Although the organisation moved to Paris in 1922 and to New York in 1942, it still has two branches in Egypt, one in Cairo and one in Alexandria. It also runs the Nubar Club in both cities. Cairo has also been an important place for diaspora political parties, who have branches there, along with their sports clubs and newspapers.

The Kalousdian Armenian School is the oldest institution of private education in Egypt and the oldest remaining Armenian school in the country. It was established in 1854 by Garabed Agha Kalousd in the Heliopolis district of Cairo.  

Famous Egyptian Armenians who have contributed to the country’s development, include Nubar Nubarian (Nubar Pasha); Ohan Hagop Justinian, the first person to manufacture cameras for film production in Cairo and Alexandria. He filmed 12 Egyptian films between 1948 and 1957.  Among the famous actresses in Egyptian cinema are Beyrouz Artin Kalfaian (Fayrouz), Nonia Kobelian (Lebleba) and Mary Nizar Julian (Mimi Gamal). Well-known musician Fuad Grabit Panosian (Foad al-Zahery) has composed the music for some 350 Egyptian films.  

Perhaps the most well-known Armenian to make a contribution to the culture of modern Egypt is cartoonist Alexander Saroukhan, who worked for various Egyptian publications, as well as the Armenian daily, Arev. Saroukhan left his mark on Egyptian media through his political satire. He also wrote a book in Armenian about the art of caricature, as well as five satirical plays. 

The Armenian community of Cairo has a rich history of intellectual activity, especially in the field of journalism and media. A number of prominent intellectuals and writers, such as Arpiar Arpiarian, Vahan Tekeyan and Yervant Odian, lived and spent their last days in Cairo. The first Armenian paper to be established in Egypt was Armaveni (Palm tree), founded in Cairo by Abraham Mouradian in 1865.  Three periodicals continue to be published in Cairo: Housaper (ARF), founded in 1913; Arev (ADL), founded in 1915; and Tchahagir (SDHP), founded in 1948.