The first leading Arab and African woman in the world
Lotfia Elnadi was born on 29 October 1907 into an upper-class family in Cairo. After completion of her primary education, it was expected that she would marry, becoming a housewife and mother. Her father, who worked for the government printing office, Matbaa Amiriya, saw no reason for Elnadi to pursue secondary education. Her mother encouraged her to attend the American College with its modern curriculum and focus as a language school.
Elnadi read an article about a flying school which had just opened in Cairo and determined that she would attend, despite her father's objections. Initially she approached a journalist to assist her, but when he refused, she went directly to the director of EgyptAir, Kamal Elwi, asking for assistance. He saw the potential for publicity and agreed to help. As Elnadi had no way to pay for the flying lessons, she worked as the secretary and telephone operator for the flying school in exchange for her tuition
Telling her father that she was attending a bi-weekly study group, Elnadi instead took flight lessons,[2] along with 33 other male classmates. When Elnadi earned her pilot’s licence, on 27 September 1933, she became the first African as well as Arab woman pilot in the world, after only 67 days of study. Initially her father was angry, but seeing the favorable press Elnadi received, his anger dissipated and he allowed her to take him on a flight over the pyramids. Her achievement made headlines throughout the worl
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