São Paulo – A collection featuring books and maps from the Middle East was launched on Thursday (25). The content gathers over 1,000 items and was collected over a lifetime by Roberto Duailibi and donated to the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC). The renowned advertising executive is a Lebanese descendant and included in the collection pictures, documents and audio records telling the story of his own family.
The collection is now part of the institution’s cultural arm Arab House and is located in its headquarters, the Jamil Saliba library in São Paulo. “It’s a great act of generosity from Roberto Duailibi to donate his library on Eastern themes. It’s a responsibility we accept with pleasure to perpetuate this collection,” said ABCC president Osmar Chohfi in the opening ceremony. Pictured on the opening photo: Chohfi (L) and Duailibi (R).
The pieces used to be in an apartment owned by Duailibi devoted to the library of literatures from the East, especially Lebanon. “When I went to Lebanon, I used to visit a bookstore that had maps of the East, so I started collecting them. The library became a landmark. Students came even from the United States to browse the rare books. Then I met Chohfi and later [Rubens] Hannun. Ambassador Chohfi saw its value, so I donated the books and maps,” said Duailibi.
The works on his ancestors are now organized on the website FamilyD. The advertising executive recounted his love story for books, which he also inherited from his family. “My father never forbidden us to read any type of book. He even made us memorize poems to recite at dinner, so this ended up being an influence,” he told ANBA.
Roberto Duailibi, who’s also a writer, stressed the importance of the partnership with his wife Sylvia Duailibi in his live story. “She supported me at every step, even by taking care of the collection. This is the type of asset that does not depreciate, as knowledge is the most precious fortune,” said Duailibi.
Roberto Duailibi was one of the founders of DPZ, one of the most important advertising agencies in Brazil. He’s also a professor, writer and member of the Academy of Literature of São Paulo. In addition to Chohfi and members of the Duailibi family, the ceremony featured ABCC executives, including secretary-general & CEO Tamer Mansour, Marketing & Communications director Silvana Gomes, and International Relations vice president Mohamad Orra Mourad.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
