Fifty years after her passing, Oum Kalthoum’s legacy still resonates in Egyptian streets

Record ID: 1983065

  • Title: Fifty years after her passing, Oum Kalthoum’s legacy still resonates in Egyptian streets
  • Date: 6th March 2025
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (MARCH 2, 2025) (REUTERS)(NIGHT SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) 27-YEAR-OLD EGYPTIAN, MICHAEL MEDHAT, SAYING: "Regardless of her voice, there is no one like her. She literally chose the words she sang and that is what distinguishes Oum Kalthoum the most. She didn’t sing (just) anything and that’s it." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) 24-YEAR-OLD EGYPTIAN, KARIM (NO SURNAME GI
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Culture Egypt Music Singer Um Kalthoum
  • Location: CAIRO AND GIZA, EGYPT
  • City: CAIRO AND GIZA, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Middle East,Music
  • Reuters ID: LVA00A657705032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: MUSIC NOT CLEARED FOR USE, PLEASE CHECK WITH THE APPLICABLE COLLECTING SOCIETY OR RELEVANT RIGHTS HOLDERS IN YOUR TERRITORY REGARDING CLEARANCE OF ANY SOUND RECORDINGS
    The Egyptian Ministry of Culture announced that 2025 will be the "Year of Oum Kalthoum", commemorating the 50th anniversary of the passing of the legendary singer, often referred to as the "Star of the Orient". The decision aims to honor her artistic legacy and her significant role in Egyptian popular culture.
    Almost a century after her rise to fame and 50 years after her passing, Oum Kalthoum remains the undisputed queen of Arabic music, according to her fans, cultural critics, and those who worked with her. Beyond her musical accomplishments, she is deeply ingrained in Egyptian cultural consciousness, her legacy continuing to resonate through her timeless songs and influence in daily life.
    "No matter which song of hers you listen to, you feel like it was made just for you," said 24-year-old Karim, at one of the many coffee shops named after the singer.
    Her keen artistic sense significantly contributed to her legendary status. Sayyed Mahmoud, a journalist for Al-Ahram Al-Arabi magazine, said the singer's pursuit of new sounds "explains the rise, continuity, and her ability to innovate. She is not isolated from her era, and this is what has always kept her present."
    Farouk Salama, a 90-year-old accordionist who played in her band, fondly remembered his time performing with her. "Music that anyone, young or old, can understand and know. It is music that you will never forget and that will never leave your mind," Salama told Reuters.
    Oum Kalthoum's influence extends beyond love songs and classical Arabic poetry. Her repertoire also includes patriotic songs that bolstered morale during times of crisis and war, notably after the 1967 Six Day War. This deepened her connection with the people, a bond evident in the massive crowds that attended her funeral in 1975.
    (Production: Heba Fouad, Mohamed Aysam)
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