Al-Aharam, Egypt, October 3
Forty-five years after her death, the Arab world’s greatest singer, Umm Kulthum, will come back to life with the use of state-of-the-art technology. This is bound to happen in an upcoming concert organized in Saudi Arabia, where Umm Kulthum’s hologram will be projected on stage while her music will be played. According to the concert’s producers, those sitting in the audience will not be able to notice that the figure standing on stage isn’t real. It will feel, sound, and look just as if the Star of the East were there herself. Putting aside the technological aspect of this show (which is impressive in and of itself), this concert is remarkable for yet another reason: the fact that Umm Kulthum still succeeds to inspire the masses. As an Egyptian, this provides me with a deep feeling of pride that words simply cannot express. During our darkest and most difficult days, Umm Kulthum organized concerts around the Arab world to raise funds for our country. She supported the Egyptian Army. She held campaigns for Egyptian children. She was an iconic figure who represented our nation’s noblest values. Most importantly, she was loved and admired by fans throughout the Arab world, who listened to her voice and felt that they were part of something bigger than themselves. Today, in 2018, this sense of unity seems long gone. There is not a single star, let alone a leader, who can unite the Arab world. Umm Kulthum had that power. She was a singer, but also a political symbol. Everything she stood for and represented is so painfully absent from our lives today. Therefore, this concert is an important reminder; it is a message of hope for a better future for the Middle East, in which we, as Arabs, can see beyond our differences, overcome political divisions, and take pride in our shared cultural heritage. –Ala Al-Saadna