Oum Kalthoum was a legendary Egyptian singer known as "Star of the East" who was renowned throughout the Arab world in the early-to-mid 20th century. She showed early talent as a singer and began performing locally as a child in disguise as a boy. After moving to Cairo in her teens, her fame spread rapidly. Over her career spanning decades, her style evolved from virtuosic singing to incorporate more Egyptian musical traditions. Her incredibly long and emotional concerts attracted devoted fans and she was a iconic figure who supported Egyptian nationalism. She continued performing into old age until her death in 1975.

1. OUM KALTHOUM
‫كلثوم‬ ‫أم‬
STAROFTHEEAST
OUM KALTHOUM
‫كلثوم‬ ‫أم‬
STAROFTHEEAST

2. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
In this presentation I'm going to tellIn this presentation I'm going to tell
you the story of ayou the story of a legendary femalelegendary female
singersinger, renowned throughout the Arab, renowned throughout the Arab
World, but almost unknown in theWorld, but almost unknown in the
Western World.Western World.
Her name wasHer name was Oum KalthoumOum Kalthoum, and, and
she was known as Kawkab El Sharq,she was known as Kawkab El Sharq,
which means Star of the East.which means Star of the East.
She had an amazing life, which I'mShe had an amazing life, which I'm
going to tell you briefly about, fromgoing to tell you briefly about, from
childhood to later years.childhood to later years.

3. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
Her career crossed the cultural andHer career crossed the cultural and
artistic life of Egyptartistic life of Egypt from the late 20'sfrom the late 20's
to the early 70'sto the early 70's..
So many years after her death, OumSo many years after her death, Oum
Kalthoum is still by far the mostKalthoum is still by far the most
recognizable name in Arab singing.recognizable name in Arab singing.

4. CHILDHOODCHILDHOOD
She soon proved toShe soon proved to
be a hugebe a huge vocalvocal
talenttalent..
When she was 12,When she was 12,
her father, who washer father, who was
the imam of thethe imam of the
local mosque,local mosque,
started to bring herstarted to bring her
along with his smallalong with his small
musical religiousmusical religious
groupgroup to sing atto sing at
weddings and otherweddings and other
celebrations.celebrations.
Since he was a verySince he was a very
conservative man,conservative man,
he disguised her ashe disguised her as
aa boyboy..

5. YOUNG AGEYOUNG AGE
Despite this, theDespite this, the
fame of her voicefame of her voice
began to spreadbegan to spread
quickly.quickly.
At that time, EgyptAt that time, Egypt
was underwas under BritishBritish
colonialismcolonialism..
At 16, she wasAt 16, she was
noticed by a famousnoticed by a famous
oudist (oud is a typeoudist (oud is a type
of lute) and by aof lute) and by a
famous singer, whofamous singer, who
encouraged her to goencouraged her to go
toto CairoCairo to expandto expand
her horizons.her horizons.

6. MOVE TO CAIRO AND FAMEMOVE TO CAIRO AND FAME
In 1921 she saw Cairo for the firstIn 1921 she saw Cairo for the first
time.time.
She was invited to sing at a weddingShe was invited to sing at a wedding
in a wealthy house, but at first theyin a wealthy house, but at first they
refused to let in a young girl dressedrefused to let in a young girl dressed
like a peasant.like a peasant.
Finally, inFinally, in 19231923, Oum Kalthoum, Oum Kalthoum
moved to the capital.moved to the capital.
In the meanwhile, in 1919 EgyptIn the meanwhile, in 1919 Egypt
became at last free from Britishbecame at last free from British
colonialism: the Declaration ofcolonialism: the Declaration of
IndependenceIndependence was released in 1922.was released in 1922.

7. MOVE TO CAIRO AND FAMEMOVE TO CAIRO AND FAME
In the earlier 20's, music had become aIn the earlier 20's, music had become a
kind of general and massivekind of general and massive
entertainment, thanks to the radio and toentertainment, thanks to the radio and to
the gramophone:the gramophone: concerts were broadcastconcerts were broadcast
at night, at home and in the cafes.at night, at home and in the cafes.

8. MOVE TO CAIRO AND FAMEMOVE TO CAIRO AND FAME
It was one of theIt was one of the
most extraordinarilymost extraordinarily
intense and vibrantintense and vibrant
periods in Egyptianperiods in Egyptian
history.history.
Oum KalthoumOum Kalthoum
immediately metimmediately met
greatgreat successsuccess, but, but
she needed furthershe needed further
musical and literarymusical and literary
studies.studies.
For this reason,For this reason,
she started takingshe started taking
classical singingclassical singing
lessons, andlessons, and
studying poetry.studying poetry.

9. MOVE TO CAIRO AND FAMEMOVE TO CAIRO AND FAME
In 1925 she was introduced to theIn 1925 she was introduced to the
greatgreat poetpoet Ahmed RamiAhmed Rami, who wrote, who wrote
137 songs for her, and is the main137 songs for her, and is the main
character of the novel "I Loved You forcharacter of the novel "I Loved You for
Your Voice", by Selim Nassib.Your Voice", by Selim Nassib.
In the novel, largely biographical, weIn the novel, largely biographical, we
find out the poet loved her for 30find out the poet loved her for 30
years of unreturned love.years of unreturned love.

10. THE “GOLDEN AGE”THE “GOLDEN AGE”
In the 30's, her repertoire took aIn the 30's, her repertoire took a
specific direction: it was virtuosic, duespecific direction: it was virtuosic, due
to herto her powerful voicepowerful voice, and close to the, and close to the
romantic and modern tastes of theromantic and modern tastes of the
popular culture of the times.popular culture of the times.
But in the 40's her style underwent aBut in the 40's her style underwent a
dramatic turn in favor of specificallydramatic turn in favor of specifically
Egyptian musical traditionsEgyptian musical traditions..
The use ofThe use of poetrypoetry and of the Egyptianand of the Egyptian
dialectdialect, and her so typically powerful, and her so typically powerful
voice touched for many decades thevoice touched for many decades the
deep heart of Egypt, causing in herdeep heart of Egypt, causing in her
audience an unbelievable emotionalaudience an unbelievable emotional
involvement.involvement.

11. THE “GOLDEN AGE”THE “GOLDEN AGE”
During her concerts,During her concerts,
which lasted up towhich lasted up to
six hourssix hours, the, the
audience was soaudience was so
involved, that itinvolved, that it
became, as a matterbecame, as a matter
of fact, part of theof fact, part of the
concert.concert.
For her, the directFor her, the direct
relationship withrelationship with
the audience wasthe audience was
critical: it was likecritical: it was like
an ongoingan ongoing
dialogue, and adialogue, and a
continuouscontinuous
improvisationimprovisation..

12. THE “GOLDEN AGE”THE “GOLDEN AGE”
Her concerts resembled a collectiveHer concerts resembled a collective
ecstatic ritualecstatic ritual: people cried, laughed,: people cried, laughed,
rejoiced.rejoiced.
Her voice emitted 14,000 vibrationsHer voice emitted 14,000 vibrations
(frequency), while a normal voice is(frequency), while a normal voice is
about 4,000, and had an extension ofabout 4,000, and had an extension of
six octavessix octaves..

13. THE “GOLDEN AGE”THE “GOLDEN AGE”
She sang far from the microphone,She sang far from the microphone,
holding in her left hand her famousholding in her left hand her famous
silksilk handkerchiefhandkerchief..
The length of her songs ranged fromThe length of her songs ranged from
45 minutes to45 minutes to two hourstwo hours and a half.and a half.
Her orchestra was made of 18Her orchestra was made of 18
instruments or more: violins, cellos,instruments or more: violins, cellos,
guitars, accordion, oud, tabla, andguitars, accordion, oud, tabla, and
qanun.qanun.

14. LATER YEARSLATER YEARS
In 1952 a militaryIn 1952 a military
coup broughtcoup brought
GamalGamal AbdelAbdel
NasserNasser to power.to power.
The new leaderThe new leader
called Thuma (hercalled Thuma (her
nickname) and toldnickname) and told
her: "I wish youher: "I wish you
resume yourresume your
career: you are thecareer: you are the
link that unites alllink that unites all
Egyptians. MillionsEgyptians. Millions
are in need of yourare in need of your
voice ... ".voice ... ".
And she didAnd she did supportsupport
the president from thethe president from the
beginning till the endbeginning till the end
of his government,of his government,
throughout the wholethroughout the whole
Arab world andArab world and
outside.outside.

15. LATER YEARSLATER YEARS
When inWhen in 19561956 Egypt suffered severeEgypt suffered severe
losses from the war waged by Israel,losses from the war waged by Israel,
France and UK, and inFrance and UK, and in 19671967 sufferedsuffered
another crushing defeat byanother crushing defeat by IsraelIsrael, she, she
gave her contribution in raising fundsgave her contribution in raising funds
for the reconstruction.for the reconstruction.
In the same year she was in Paris forIn the same year she was in Paris for
two concerts at thetwo concerts at the OlympiaOlympia musicmusic
hall: she received 100,000 Francs forhall: she received 100,000 Francs for
each night of performance, the highesteach night of performance, the highest
wage in the history of this music hall,wage in the history of this music hall,
and gave it all for the cause ofand gave it all for the cause of
reconstruction.reconstruction.

16. LATER YEARSLATER YEARS
TheThe health problemshealth problems which plaguedwhich plagued
Oum Kalthum throughout much of herOum Kalthum throughout much of her
adult life worsened as she aged.adult life worsened as she aged.
Her eyes became hypersensitive toHer eyes became hypersensitive to
light, and in her later years she worelight, and in her later years she wore
dark glassesdark glasses almost all the time.almost all the time.
She died of heartShe died of heart
failure infailure in 19751975..

17. LATER YEARSLATER YEARS
The crowds of ordinaryThe crowds of ordinary
Egyptians who followedEgyptians who followed
thethe funeralsfunerals farfar
exceeded the numberexceeded the number
anticipated.anticipated.
Millions of EgyptianMillions of Egyptian
mourners (themourners (the
queue extended forqueue extended for
10 kilometers10 kilometers) took) took
the body from thethe body from the
shoulders of itsshoulders of its
official bearers andofficial bearers and
bore it themselvesbore it themselves
by turns, carrying itby turns, carrying it
for three hoursfor three hours
through the streetsthrough the streets
of Cairo.of Cairo.

18. ALF LEILA WA LEILAALF LEILA WA LEILA
After this “mute” description, I'd like toAfter this “mute” description, I'd like to
give you a touch of the magic of hergive you a touch of the magic of her
voice: here is a short excerpt from onevoice: here is a short excerpt from one
of her most famous songs,of her most famous songs, Alf Leila WaAlf Leila Wa
LeilaLeila (One Thousand and One Nights)(One Thousand and One Nights)..