Biography

• Full Name: Badawiya Mohamed 'Ali al-Nidani Karim
  Stage Name: Taheyya Kariokka (also spelled Tahiya Carioca)
• Profession: Raqs Sharqi performer (Oriental dance, often called belly dance) and film and stage actress
• Date of Birth: 22 February 1919
• Place of Birth: Ismailia, Egypt
• Date of Death: 20 September 1999
• Place of Death: Cairo, Egypt
• Years Active: Mid-1930s to late 1990s

Early Life and Education

• Born to an Egyptian family in the city of Ismailia. She received basic schooling before moving to Cairo at a young age.
• From childhood, her talent for dance and musical performance was evident.

Entry into the Arts

• Relocated to Cairo early and joined a leading revue/theatre troupe of the time.
• She took the stage name “Kariokka” after performing the “Carioca” dance—a Latin/Brazilian-influenced rhythm that was fashionable in the 1930s–40s—which became her signature and the springboard to her fame.

Career

• A towering icon of 20th-century raqs sharqi and a pillar of Egyptian cinema and theatre.
• Combined the charisma of a star dancer with the craft of a nuanced dramatic actress, commanding both lead roles and complex character parts.
• Appeared in more than 120 productions across films, stage plays, TV series, and television dramas/specials.
• Known for portraying strong, impactful female characters, with refined control over voice, movement, and expressive physical performance.
• Founded her own theatre troupe bearing her name, through which she presented socially aware comedies and politically tinged plays.

Selected Works

• Film:
• La'bat al-Sitt (1946)
• Shati' al-Gharam (1950) — “Beach of Love”
• Shabab Imra'ah (1956) — “A Woman’s Youth”
• al-Futuwa (1957) — “The Tough/Bully”
• Umm al-'Arusa (1963) — “Mother of the Bride”
• Khalli Balak min Zuzu — “Watch Out for Zuzu”
• Stage: Presented dozens of productions with her troupe, featuring socially and politically themed works.
• Television: Appeared in TV dramas and special programs, especially in the later decades of her career.

Awards and Honors

• Widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and received official and festival honors in Egypt and abroad for her body of work.

Personal Life

• Famous for multiple marriages; it is often noted she married 14 times.
• Faced health challenges later in life and passed away in Cairo in 1999.

Social and Humanitarian Stance

• Known for outspoken social and patriotic positions, and for her support of social justice causes.
• Mentored young talents, backed serious artistic projects, and took part in charitable activities.

Legacy and Influence

• Taheyya Kariokka remains a symbol of refined showmanship and powerful acting, leaving an indelible mark on the history of raqs sharqi, Egyptian cinema, and theatre.
• Her body of work and onstage presence are still referenced when discussing the evolution of women’s representation and strong female characters in Arab drama.