Umm Kulthum's songs : exploring linguistic and literary dimensions in the context of Egypt's socio-cultural landscape

Abstract

The following dissertation presents a socio-cultural background on the life of Umm Kulthum, exploring her influential stature in both the Egyptian and the Arab societies. Additionally, it undertakes a thematic, linguistic and literary analysis of the eight selected songs of Umm Kulthum, with a focus on the overarching theme of nationalism. The selection process entailed a thorough review of many songs to select key themes, ensuring a coherent analysis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand Umm Kulthum’s reputation in the Arab world through the lens of her music and her impact in the socio-cultural, political and historical spheres. The enduring presence of Umm Kulthum in Egyptian society continues to serve as a significant cultural reflection to this day. This research tackles a qualitative approach, with the selection of songs based on their alignment with themes of nationalism, considering the sub-themes pertaining to Egyptian society and history, the element of Arab unity, and the issue of Palestine. The analysis drew upon audio-visual material from YouTube, and the lyrics were sourced from LyricsTranslate, and an academic article Complete Texts of Umm Kulthum’s Lyrics authored by Nubuo Mizuno and Tetsuo Nishio. The data was initially analysed using linguistic and literary devices, including metaphor, simile, imagery, symbolism, intertextuality, rhyme, rhythm, classical and Egyptian Arabic. This study highlights one notable implication, including the richness of the language and the use of linguistic and literary devices within Umm Kulthum’s songs. Particularly noteworthy is the incorporation of the classical ode, which serves to depict cultural elements, that distinguishes her work from that of other artists. This thesis contributes to existing literature by conducting a detailed analysis of Umm Kulthum’s songs, since it goes well-beyond acknowledging the socio-cultural aspects of Egyptian society. This dissertation provides an understanding into Umm Kulthum importance in the Arab world through the messages and reflective elements in her songs.