Umm Kulthum: The Star of the East

by  : Rhonda Roumani (Author), Ahmed Abdelmohsen (Illustrator)

Umm Kulthum was an iconic Arab singer whose powerful voice captivated the region for over five decades. Admired by the likes of Maria Callas, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, and Bono, she became a symbol of cultural pride.

Born to a poor village sheikh in Egypt, she defied social norms of her time, convincing her parents to send her to school to learn to read and recite the Qur’an. Disguised as a boy, she toured the countryside with her father, singing at religious events until her voice could no longer be hidden, earning her early fame.