Umm Kulthum's Museum
Umm Kulthum's museum is considered a cultural and artistic beacon that
preserves the great singer's legacy. The museum was built as a commemoration to
the legendry Egyptian singer. The museum displays most of her remarkable
musical history and her collections and belongings.
The Ministry of Culture started to establish this museum in April 1998
in Al-Rawda Island on the Nile in the heart of Cairo. The ministry then allocated one of the
Monastery Palace's buildings for establishing Umm Kulthum's Museum. The museum
is located in Al-Rawda Island and next to the famous Nilometre that attracts
both foreigners and Egyptians.
The
Museum's Exhibits
In 1998, the Ministry of Culture started to collect Umm Kulthum's
private belongings and musical works. After a great effort, the ministry was
able to restore the legendary singer's most valuable and priceless belongings
that are currently being displayed in the museum.
Umm Kulthum's Museum displays honors and awards that she received during
her lifetime and most of her personal belongings. It also exhibits musical
notes, original manuscripts of the lyrics of her songs, rare records and
movies. Moreover, it displays some documents like letters from and to some
politicians, leaders and public and art figures who influence her art and
music.
Umm Kulthum's Museum consists of:
The Main Hall
It displays Umm Kulthum's personal belongings, medals and honours in
addition to murals of Kawkab al-Sharq rare photos, Musical notes, and manuscripts
of lyrics of her songs written by renowned poets and some of her letters.
The Cinema hall
It displays a short documentary film produced by
cultural Development Fund showing selections of her life in addition to scenes
of her movies and concerts in Egypt and the Middle East concluding it with her
funeral. The documentary film is available in Arabic, English and French.
The Audio visual
Library Hall
It consists of five computers
which displaying all of her songs, pictures of her concerts and trips inside
and outside Egypt, her movies and there is a full record of Arabic newspaper
articles about Umm Kulthum from 1924 to 2000.
The Panorama
Hall
It displays a 10-minute
panorama of umm Kulthum's photos through various stages of her life with her
colleagues in addition to her photos with renowned artists and singers
accompanied by the music of the famous artist Regah Dawoud.
The museum also displays a 15-minute
silent documentary of Umm Kulthum or "the Lady" showing all of her concerts inside and
outside Egypt.
