Children’s Book Documents Rise of Umm Kulthum, Egypt’s Star of the East, As Declaration of National Identity
Reviewed by Emina Jamil
Umm Kulthum: The Star of the East
Rhonda Roumani. Crocodile Books, 2024.
Umm Kulthum: The Star of the East presents a children’s book about the legendary Egyptian singer and cultural icon Umm Kulthum. Rhonda Roumani, a Syrian American author, with her familiarity with Arab culture and traditions, takes readers on an enchanted voyage of the late vocalist’s humble prelude to the highlight of her glamorous calling. Her long haul to success validates how her flair and zealousness left a mark on present-day Arab music, culture and society. The narrative takes off with a heartwarming look at Kulthum’s childhood in a small village along the Nile in Egypt. Her insistence on attending school would cultivate a talent in memorizing the Qur’an and singing religious songs. She performed disguised as a boy—her performances defied traditional norms for girls—and her recitations led to the discovery of her own voice and eventually the climax of a career that helped Egypt reclaim its national identity. Roumani reveals glimpses of some of the trials and tribulations Kulthum faced during her initial stay in Cairo. Flipping the script within her own life and breaking societal norms, she went on to collaborate with some of the most prominent composers and poets in the Arab world. With help from Cairo-based illustrator Ahmed Abdelmohsen, Roumani invites readers to celebrate the singer’s métier and cultural ascension as an avant-garde artist and symbol of national pride.
“The Arab world couldn’t help but fall in love with the Egyptian woman with the powerful voice, who sang their story and reclaimed their history. She would be forever known as the village girl who became the Kawkab al-Sharq (The Star of the East).”