Taheyya Kariokka

Taheyya Kariokka (تحية كاريوكا), an Egyptian belly dancer and actress (February 22, 1919 – September 30, 1999).

Basic info wiki card

English Name: Taheyya Kariokka
Arabic Name: تحية كاريوكا
Full Real Name: Badawia Mohamed Ali El-Nidani
Nationality: Egypt
Language: Arabic, Egyptian Dialect
Religion: Islam
Date of Birth: February 22, 1919
Place of Birth: Ismailia, Egypt
Date of Death: September 30, 1999
Place of Death: Cairo, Egypt
Age: 80 years, 7 months, and 8 days (at death in 1999)
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Profession: Dancer, Actress
Genre: Belly Dance, Egyptian Cinema
Marital Status: Married
Husband: Rushdy Abaza

Biography, Life story

Taheyya Kariokka was born on February 22, 1919, in Ismailia, Egypt. She began working in dance, singing, and acting at a young age until she was discovered by dancer Mohasen Mohamed, then she met Badia Masabni and joined her troupe, which helped her in cinema and theater. Her real fame started in 1940 when she presented the global Carioca dance in one of Suliman Naguib’s shows, a dance that became associated with her name.

She was known as the last great figure in the history of belly dance, having developed her own style based on reproducing the ancient Eastern harmonics in dance. Through this style, she established a complete school of belly dance, contrasting with the style of Samia Gamal, who blended belly dance with Western dance, which eventually led to a significant mix between belly dance and striptease. In the mid-1950s, Kariokka retired from belly dance and fully devoted herself to cinema, participating in a large number of prominent films that bore her unique imprint. She also presented, with her ex-husband Fayyad Halawa, several famous plays, including Rubabekiya and Long Live the Delegation.

Kariokka also engaged in significant political activity, having been arrested several times due to her secret political activities, as she was a member of several communist organizations, including the Hadtou Organization. Influenced by her charismatic personality, many Arab writers and intellectuals have written studies about her, the most notable being a study by the late Palestinian intellectual Edward Said.

Taheyya Kariokka married 14 times, thus holding the record for the highest number of marriages among female artists:

– She married Antoine Issa, the nephew of the famous dancer Badia Masabni, in 1939 but separated from him after a few months in 1940.
– In the same year, she married one of Egypt’s wealthiest men, Mohamed Sultan Pasha, but separated from him after six months when he asked her to give up dancing.
– She married American officer Levi, who converted to Islam and took her to the United States, but they quickly separated.
– She married director Fatin Abdel Wahab and separated from him due to his extreme jealousy.
– She married actor Ahmed Salem, who divorced his wife Amina Al-Baroudi to marry Taheyya, who loved him madly and traveled with him to Palestine before the establishment of the Hebrew state. Strong rumors arose about a relationship between Ahmed Salem and Asmahan, leading to Kariokka’s separation from him before returning to Cairo.
– She married King Farouk’s personal pilot, Hussein Akef, but separated from him after just two months.
– She married Rushdy Abaza and traveled with him to Lebanon, where she caught him in an intimate situation with the French woman Annie Parine at a nightclub in Hamra Street, and without any preamble or regard for rules, she dragged the French woman by her hair, beat her severely, and demanded a divorce that very night.
– She married immediately after the end of her waiting period to one of the king’s officers, Major Mustafa Kamel Sedki, who was arrested after the revolution in 1952, leading to their separation.
– She married young Abdel Moneim El-Khadim, who was known for his handsomeness and wealth, and she stayed with him for five years, making it her longest marriage at that time, but she separated from him in 1956 when he asked her to retire from dancing.
– She married Major Doctor Hassan Hussein but separated from him when she discovered that he was involved with the rising Lebanese singer Sabah. Overwhelmed by love and shock, she attempted suicide by swallowing a large quantity of pills and was saved with great difficulty. That day, she swore off marriage for three years.
– She married the young rising singer Moharram Fouad in mid-1959 but separated from him before the year ended.
– She married Ahmed Zulfikar Sabry for one year.
– She married playwright Fayyad Halawa and remained with him for 18 years until their marriage ended in problems and disputes that reached the courts.
– She married director Hassan Abdel Salam until her death.

Taheyya Kariokka passed away in 1999 at the age of 80 due to a severe pulmonary embolism after returning from a pilgrimage trip. She adopted a little girl when she was seventy and always joked with her friends that she gave birth at seventy. She asked one of her close friends to take care of the little girl after her death.

Taheyya Kariokka’s character has been portrayed in several films and series, including:
– The series (Cinderella) in 2006 about the life of Souad Hosny, starring Mona Zaki, where Regaiya El-Gidawi portrayed her role.
– The series (Abu Dhakhet Janan) in 2009 about the life of Ismail Yassin, starring Ashraf Abdel Baqi.
– The series (Kariokka) in 2012 about her life, starring Wafaa Amer.

Filmography

Films

Bint El-Hawa (x), Al-Jawhara (1900), Dr. Farhat (1935), Khefird Al-Darak (1936), Waraa Al-Sitar (1937), Khalaf Al-Habayeb (1939), Laylat Mamtra (1939), Al-Bashmoukawil (1940), Layla Bint Al-Reef (1941), Akheeran Atgawazt (1942), Al-Sitat Fi Khatar (1942), Ahlam Al-Shabab (1942), Ahab Al-Ghalat (1942), Hanan (1944), Nadouja (1944), Taqiat Al-Ikhfa (1944), Laylat Al-Haz (1945), Laylat Al-Jum’a (1945), Al-Sabr Tayyib (1945), Ahab Al-Baladi (1945), Laibat Al-Sitt (1946), Ma Aqdarshe (1946), Najaf (1946), Hob Wa Junoon (1948), Amirat Al-Jazeera (1948), Yihya Al-Fann (1948), Al-Qatel (1948), Ahab Al-Raqs (1948), Ibn Al-Fallah (1948), Mandil Al-Hilu (1949), Al-Bayt Al-Kabir (1949), Aw’i Al-Mahfaza (1950), ‘Uqbal Al-Bakari (1949), Bint Bariz (1950), Al-Batal (1950), Ayyam Shababi (1950), Hamatik Tuhibbik (1950), Mahsub Al-‘Aela (1950), Qisma Wa Nasib (1950), Gharam Raqsah (1950), Aini Batrif (1950), Shati Al-Gharam (1950), Hamati Qanbala Dhariya (1951), Khada’ni Abi (1951), Fayeq W Ra’iq (1951), Dahiya Gharami (1951), Al-Sabr Jamil (1951), Fayrouz Hanem (1951), Laylat Gharam (1951), Balad Al-Mahboub (1951), Ibn Al-Halal (1951), Al-Zuhur Al-Fatina (1952), Al-Montaser (1952), Habib Qalbi (1952), Al-Um Al-Qatila (1952), Al-Masakin (1952), Ali Kifak (1952), Ana Dhanbi Aih (1953), Hamido (1953), Al-Mar’a Kul Shai (1953), Ibn Lil-Ijar (1953), Al-Sayed Al-Badawi (1954), ‘Aroset Al-Mawlid (1954), Al-Mi’ad (1955), Ahl Al-Hawa (1955), ‘Ashiq Al-Ruh (1955), Al-Muftish Al-Amm (1956), Samara (1956), Sahibat Al-Isema (1956), Shabab Imra’a (1956), Nawaim (1957), Al-Fatwah (1957), Shati Al-Asrar (1958), Habibi Al-Asmar (1958), Al-Mu’allima (1958), Bay’aa Al-Ward (1959), Hayat Imra’a (1959), Lan A’ud (1959), ‘Afreit Samara (1959), Ihna Al-Talamid (1959), Khalakhal Habibi (1960), Ana Wa Oummi (1960), Hob Hatta Al-Ibada (1960), Wa Islamah (1961), ‘Ashour Qalb Al-Asad (1961), Hayra Wa Shabab (1962), Sir Al-Gha’ib (1962), Shati Al-Hob (1961), Um Al-‘Aroosa (1963), Al-Tariq (1964), Khan Al-Khalili (1966), Akher Al-‘Anqood (1966), Idrab Al-Shahatine (1967), Sabah Al-Khayr Ya Zawjati Al-Aziza (1969), Al-Sarab (1970), La’bat Kull Yawm (1971), Khali Balak Min Zuzu (1972), Al-Sukariyah (1973), Zair Al-Fajr (1973), Min Yuqdir Ala Aziza (1975), Zamzam Al-Karnak (1975), Al-Saqa Mat (1976), Wasqata Fi Bahr Al-Asal (1977), La Tazlimu Al-Nisa’ (1980), Ana Fi ‘Aynih (1981), Layal (1982), Kidhun ‘Azeem (1983), Al-Mutared (1985), Al-Wada’ Ya Bonaparte (1985), Manzil Al-‘Aela Al-Masmumah (1986), Intihar Sahib Al-Shuqah (1986), Lil-Hob Qissa Akhira (1986), Asr Al-Hob (1986), Al-Da’iah (1986), Al-Sabr Fi Al-Malahat (1986), Ah Ya Balad Ah (1986), Al-Ti’ah (1987), Rawd Al-Faraj (1987), Sahib Al-Imara (1988), Nashtarik Al-Afrah (1988), Iskandariya Kaman Wa Kaman (1990), Nisa’ Sa’alik (1991), Mercedes (1993), Imra’a Tadfa’ Al-Thaman (1993), Souq Al-Nisa’ (1994), Ya Tuhib Ya Taqab (1994), Al-Gharaj (1995).

Series

Al-Qulub ‘Ind Ba’adha – TV Special, Ahl Al-Tariq (x), Mata Tabtasim Al-Dumu’ (1979), Hikayat Hu Wa Hiya (1980), Sabir Ya ‘Am Sabir (1984), Dumu’ Al-Shumu’ (1984), Yanabe’ Al-Nahr (1986), Makhloq Asmuh Al-Mar’a (1988), Al-Manzil Al-Khalafi (1992), Sir Al-Ard (1998).