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Umm Kulthum: The Timeless Voice of the Arab World

posted on: Feb 5, 2025

Umm Kulthum photographed by Sphinx in Giza, Egypt in 1967. Source: Wikicommons

By: Layan Srour & Yara Marei / Arab America Contributing Writers

February 3, 2025, marked the 50th anniversary of the passing of Umm Kulthum, one of the most celebrated and influential singers in modern Arab history. Umm Kulthum’s voice shaped the sound and soul of Arabic music in a way that remains matchless. Half a century after her passing, her music continues to resonate deeply with listeners worldwide.

A Voice That Defined an Era

Born in a small Egyptian village, Tamay e-Zahayra, her birth date is unknown. Birth registration was not enforced throughout Egypt and the whole Arab world in that era. Historians debate that she was born either on December 31, 1898; December 31, 1904; or May 4, 1904. She learned to sing under her father, a singer and imam. Upon recognizing the power of her voice, he began bringing her along, disguising her as a boy to avoid the disapproval of a young daughter onstage.

Her big break came in the 1920s when she moved to Cairo, the cultural capital of the Arab world at the time. There, she enhanced her craft under the mentorship of renowned composers and poets, adopting the classical Arabic tradition while infusing it with her unique style. As the Egyptian recording industry flourished, so did Umm Kulthum’s career. Her voice, rich in tone and unmatched in control, quickly became a national treasure.

Umm Kulthum with Poet Mahmoud Rida Hamid. Source: Wikicommons

The Art of Tarab

Umm Kulthum’s mastery of tarab—the deeply emotive state induced by music—set her apart from any other singer. Unlike modern performances, where songs have fixed lengths, Umm Kulthum’s renditions stretched for over an hour per song. She often repeated verses and improvised while stretching notes in response to the audience’s reactions, creating a deeply immersive experience. Her collaborations with Egypt’s greatest composers, such as Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Riad Al-Sunbati, and Zakaria Ahmed, produced timeless classics like Enta Omri, Alf Leila wa Leila, and Al-Atlal.

Cultural and Political Influence

Umm Kulthum was not just a singer—she was a cultural and political figure. In the 1950s and 1960s, she became a symbol of Egyptian nationalism, closely aligned with President Gamal Abdel Nasser and the pan-Arab movement. Her patriotic songs, such as Wallah Zaman Ya Selahy, were adopted as anthems, reinforcing a sense of unity and pride in Egypt and the broader Arab world.

Following the devastating Six-Day War in 1967, Umm Kulthum toured countries like Iraq, Lebanon, and Morocco to raise funds for Egypt’s military. These concerts generated millions. Her fans and the power of her voice rallied people together during times of crisis.

A Legacy That Transcends Time

On February 3, 1975, Umm Kulthum passed away at the age of 76 (or 70, depending on her birth year). Her funeral in Cairo was one of the largest ever seen in the Arab world, with millions of mourners flooding the streets to pay their respects. Even in death, she remained a unifying figure, her influence undiminished by time.

Egypt’s Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hano, declared 2025 the Year of Umm Kulthum. “Umm Kulthum is an Egyptian and Arab symbol we are proud of, and the best voice that expresses Egypt with its history and civilization,” said the Egyptian Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Henu, according to Al-Masry Al-Youm.

The Series of Umm Kulthum

Egyptian actress Sabrine plays the role of Umm Kulthum. Source: The Series of Umm Kulthum

The Umm Kulthum biography series is a cinematic tribute to the legendary Egyptian singer, produced by the official Egyptian television, bringing her extraordinary journey to life. From her beginnings in the early 20th century to becoming the “Star of the East,” the series explores her rise to fame, her mastery of classical Arabic poetry in song, and her lasting impact on Arabic music, where the actress Sabreen took on Umm Kulthum’s role. Sabreen, undoubtedly, wore the iconic sunglasses Umm Kulthum wore due to an eye condition. With a talented cast and breathtaking cinematography, through a mix of dramatized storytelling and historical accuracy, the series cements her status as an icon of Arab identity and artistic excellence. Preserving her story ensures that Umm Kulthum remains a timeless figure in world music history.

Oum Kalthoum in the Digital Age

Umm Kulthum’s hologram singing at a hologram concert. Source: hologram concerts

In recent years, her legacy has seen an extraordinary revival through hologram concerts, bringing her presence back to the stage in a way once thought impossible. Using cutting-edge digital projection technology, these performances recreate her iconic stage presence with stunning realism. Accompanied by a live orchestra, they breathe new life into her legendary songs, Enta Omri, Alf Leila wa Leila, and more, allowing both lifelong fans and new listeners to experience her artistry. Notable performances have taken place at Dubai Opera (2019), Saudi Arabia’s Winter at Tantora festival in Al-Ula, and historic venues in Cairo, proving that her influence still resonates across generations.

Lyrical Magic

Her song Al Atlal remains one of the most powerful pieces in Arabic music, a poetic masterpiece written by Ibrahim Nagi that captures the agony of love, loss, and betrayal through haunting imagery. These lyrics are deeply heartfelt and emotionally profound.

Lines like “Give me my freedom, set my hands free; I have given you and kept nothing for myself,” portray love as an act of self-sacrifice, leaving nothing behind but emptiness. The pain deepens in “Ah, your chains have wounded my wrists, there is nothing left of them, and nothing left of me,” where love becomes both a prison and a wound. The devastation of betrayal is laid bare in “Why should I remain faithful to a promise you have broken? Did you not feel ashamed of betraying me to fate?” as she confronts broken trust.

The central theme of Al Atlal ruins emerges in “I am amazed at myself, my love, how do I walk among the ruins of my own life?” transforming once-beautiful memories into an emotional wasteland. Finally, “We lived our love in joy, but fate turned against us and brought us down” elevates the song beyond personal heartbreak, turning it into a universal meditation on love’s fragility. It is this ability to articulate raw human emotions that made her music timeless, ensuring her voice and legacy continue to captivate audiences across generations.

A Legendary Voice Across Time

Umm Kulthum’s ability to express raw emotion, combined with her deep cultural significance, keeps her legacy alive today as strongly as in her prime. Her music continues to connect past and present, East and West, tradition and modernity. On this 50th anniversary of her passing, the world remembers not just the singer, but the phenomenon that was Umm Kulthum. Her voice may have fallen silent in 1975, but her presence, like the pyramids she was often compared to, remains eternal.

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