Umm Kulthum Remains Beloved Star Across Cairo, Istanbul

(MENAFN) “I remember thinking, if what we’re making is music, then what is this?” he recalled, reflecting on his first encounter with her 1964 classic Enta Omri (You’re My Life) around 2006 or 2007. “You can't help but start comparing. And of course, it really hit me – shook me, actually. Because you're listening to something that is far, far above what you're doing."

Although Altunkaya had been familiar with Arabic music, he had never experienced an artist like Umm Kulthum, whose voice would come to redefine his own artistic journey. His reaction mirrors the words of Egyptian writer Abbas Mahmoud al-Aqqad: “Umm Kulthum proved that singing is not only the art of throats and mouths, but also the art of minds and hearts.”

Altunkaya’s experience is far from unique. Decades after her passing in 1975, Umm Kulthum remains an enduring presence in Türkiye’s musical consciousness. Her songs continue to captivate listeners who may not understand Arabic but are still moved by their emotional resonance.

Murat Ozyildirim, author and lecturer emeritus, explored this enduring admiration in his book Umm Kulthum and the Turks. “Without any exaggeration, after the Arab world itself, Umm Kulthum's largest fan base in the Middle East was in Türkiye,” he told a news agency in an interview.

The year 2025 saw Egypt commemorate the 50th anniversary of her death by declaring it the “Year of Umm Kulthum,” coinciding with the publication of Ozyildirim’s book in both Turkish and Arabic, honoring the singer’s lasting legacy across cultures, as stated by reports.

MENAFN03022026000045017640ID1110688345