TAQSIM

by Dr. Raja Zulkarnain In the vibrant heart of Cairo, where life’s symphony plays amidst the echoes of ancient grandeur, the legacy of Umm Kulthum, Egypt’s most venerated musical icon, thrums as deeply as the strings of my oud . Born on May 4, 1904, Umm Kulthum, or “ Kawkab al-Sharq ” (Star of the East), began her ascent to stardom in the early 1920s, her voice becoming the soulful conduit for the emotions and stories of a nation. Her music, a tapestry of love, loss, and longing, resonated with millions, transcending the Arab world to find a special place in the hearts of Malaysians. Umm Kulthum’s powerful, political music shattered gender norms and established her as a social phenomenon, earning her the moniker “Egypt’s fourth pyramid.” Her influence reached global proportions, touching Western legends like Bob Dylan and Robert Plant, who deeply admired her. In Malaysia, her melodies and profound poetry bridged cultures, uniting diverse communities in a shared appreciation for her ar...

“As the Nile serenades the stones of the pyramids, my oud harmonizes with the heartbeat of Cairo, a city where every melody tells a story of convergence between yesterday and today. Under the golden Cairo sun, where ancient echoes meet modern melodies, my oud’s strings found their truest tune within the timeless rhythm of Egypt’s heartbeat. Amidst the bustling streets of Cairo and the whispers of its ancient sands, my journey with the oud was not just about music, but about embracing the soul of Egypt, learning to live as one with its people, and discovering the profound simplicity in their vibrant culture.” by Dr. Raja Zulkarnain The enduring legacy of ancient Egyptian music is a chronicle of influence and innovation that spans millennia. From the Neolithic period, where music and chanting were integral to magic and rituals, to the Predynastic period, Egyptian music began to take shape. By the Old Kingdom, around 2686–2181 BCE, music was already a well-established art form, deeply emb...