Skip to content
أم كلثوم The Archive
Songs Wiki People Eras Gallery Shop FAQ About
العربية
  • Songs
  • Wiki
  • People
  • Eras
  • Gallery
  • Shop
  • FAQ
  • About

Portrait Hall

A curated wall of photographs. Rest on any print to restore it.

The Early Years

1898–1923

The Rise in Cairo

1923–1934

The Radio Golden Age

1934–1952

The Nationalist Era

1952–1967

The Late Monumental Years

1967–1975

Archival photograph of poet Ahmed Rami standing in a dark suit beside a doorway.
Poet Ahmed Rami, one of Umm Kulthum’s most important lyricists. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Archival portrait of Egyptian poet Ahmed Shawqi in a fez and formal clothing.
Poet Ahmed Shawqi, an important precursor to the modern Arabic song tradition. The Rise in Cairo · 1923–1934
Archival portrait of composer Baligh Hamdi in a light shirt, seated and looking toward the camera.
Composer Baligh Hamdi, a central voice in Umm Kulthum’s later repertoire. The Nationalist Era · 1952–1967
Black-and-white archival photograph of poet Bayram al-Tunisi seated beside a small music stand.
Poet Bayram al-Tunisi, a formative lyricist in Umm Kulthum’s early circle. The Rise in Cairo · 1923–1934
Archival portrait of composer Mohamed El Qasabgi seated in a light-colored jacket.
Composer Mohamed El Qasabgi, an early architect of Umm Kulthum’s musical language. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Photograph of composer Riad al-Sunbati holding an oud and looking toward the camera.
Composer Riad al-Sunbati with his oud. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Archival portrait of composer and singer Sayed Mekawy in a light shirt, seated and smiling.
Composer and singer Sayed Mekawy, one of Umm Kulthum’s late collaborators. The Nationalist Era · 1952–1967
Public-domain family photograph of young Umm Kulthum with her father and brother in the 1920s.
Umm Kulthum with her father and brother during her rise in Cairo. The Rise in Cairo · 1923–1934
Sepia magazine photograph of a smiling Umm Kulthum leaning on a railing in a puff-sleeved dress, resting her folded arms.
Umm Kulthum in a press photograph, 1938. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Black-and-white stage photograph of Umm Kulthum singing in a long white gown before a draped curtain, with oud and violin players seated behind her.
Umm Kulthum performing on stage with her ensemble, 1939. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Colorized close-up of a smiling Umm Kulthum with dark hair and red lipstick amid a crowd of men in suits at an event.
Umm Kulthum at a public gathering, around 1950. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Color profile photograph of Umm Kulthum wearing dark sunglasses, pearl earrings and a grey collared dress, gazing upward outdoors.
Umm Kulthum in her signature sunglasses, 1969. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Black-and-white backstage photograph of Umm Kulthum in sunglasses seated beside composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab holding a tambourine, with a young man standing.
Umm Kulthum and Mohammed Abdel Wahab backstage during 'Fakkarouni'. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Film poster reading 'Om Kalsoum' with a painted portrait of Umm Kulthum above an illustrated fez-wearing orchestra and Arabic title lettering.
Poster for the film 'Aida' starring Umm Kulthum, 1942. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Egyptian film poster titled 'Sallama' in red Arabic lettering, with a painted portrait of Umm Kulthum wearing a colorful headscarf resting her chin on her hand.
Poster for the film 'Sallama' starring Umm Kulthum, 1945. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Painted film poster of Umm Kulthum in a red embroidered vest and white headwrap, hand on hip, above a musical staff and Arabic title 'Widad'.
Poster for 'Widad', Umm Kulthum's first film, 1936. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Black-and-white photograph of a vast crowd carrying Umm Kulthum's flower-draped coffin and a large framed portrait of her through the street.
The funeral procession of Umm Kulthum, Cairo, February 1975. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Black-and-white film still of Umm Kulthum singing and smiling in an ornate embroidered gown amid seated attendants in a palatial setting.
Umm Kulthum in a scene from the film 'Dananir', 1940. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Dramatic low-key portrait of Umm Kulthum in a black dress and long jeweled earrings, her face lit from above against a dark background.
Umm Kulthum in a portrait for the film 'Fatma', 1947. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Portrait of composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab in profile, wearing glasses and a dark suit.
Mohammed Abdel Wahab, the composer who collaborated with Umm Kulthum on ‘Enta Omri’. The Nationalist Era · 1952–1967
Umm Kulthum in a dark coat and sunglasses stands beside men in suits before a Paris billboard advertising her 1967 Olympia galas.
Umm Kulthum beside the poster for her first Paris concerts, November 1967. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Colorized photograph of Umm Kulthum in a headscarf, sunglasses and fur-trimmed coat walking through a crowd with companions and photographers.
Umm Kulthum amid crowds during her 1967 Paris visit. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Museum display of Umm Kulthum's open Egyptian passport with a photo of her in sunglasses, beside her crystal-studded glasses, labeled in Arabic and English.
Umm Kulthum's passport and crystal glasses on museum display. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Color concert photograph of Umm Kulthum in a magenta gown holding a scarf and singing on a darkened stage, backed by her orchestra.
Umm Kulthum in concert, Rabat, Morocco, 1968. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Black-and-white studio portrait of a smiling young Umm Kulthum resting her chin on her hands, wearing a satin blouse and jeweled bracelets.
Studio portrait of Umm Kulthum in her youth, 1930s. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Colorized portrait of Umm Kulthum in a black dress with a pearl necklace and jeweled brooch, seated on a gilded brocade sofa looking aside.
Portrait of Umm Kulthum in an elegant interior, 1950s. The Nationalist Era · 1952–1967
Aged studio photograph of Umm Kulthum as a small child seated beside her father, a mustached man in a turban and traditional robe.
Umm Kulthum as a child with her father, Sheikh Ibrahim. The Early Years · 1898–1923
Black-and-white photograph of Umm Kulthum seen from behind in a dark cloak, talking with a smiling suited Mahmoud Zulfikar amid other men outdoors.
Umm Kulthum with filmmaker Mahmoud Zulfikar. The Radio Golden Age · 1934–1952
Colorized photograph of Umm Kulthum in a black dress and sunglasses standing with President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat and another man.
Umm Kulthum with Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat, 1960s. The Nationalist Era · 1952–1967
Faded black-and-white photograph of Umm Kulthum in sunglasses and a dark dress seated beside a smiling mustached man in a white shirt in a furnished room.
Umm Kulthum with the poet Mahmoud Reda Hamed. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Warmly toned photograph of a smiling Umm Kulthum in glasses embracing and clasping hands with President Anwar Sadat in military uniform.
Umm Kulthum greeting President Anwar Sadat, early 1970s. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Color photograph of Umm Kulthum in a blue coat and sunglasses seated facing composer Riad al-Sunbati, who holds an oud, in conversation.
Umm Kulthum with composer Riad al-Sunbati. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Black-and-white photograph of Umm Kulthum in a floral dress and sunglasses standing beside Sheikh Zayed in white robes and other men.
Umm Kulthum with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, 1971. The Late Monumental Years · 1967–1975
Archival portrait of composer Zakariyya Ahmad in formal clothing.
Composer Zakariyya Ahmad, an influential figure in Umm Kulthum’s early repertoire. The Rise in Cairo · 1923–1934

أم كلثوم

An independent digital museum honoring Umm Kulthum. Lyrics are supplied by the archive’s editors; translations, annotations, and essays are original work.

  • Songs
  • Wiki
  • Gallery
  • Shop
  • FAQ
  • Editorial & sourcing policy

This site participates in Amazon Associates and the eBay Partner Network. We may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

© 2026 · ummkulthum.com