Umm_Kulthum Umm Kulthum (, born فاطمة إبراهيم البلتاجي ; see Kunya; Egyptian Arabic:Om Kalsoum). (May 4, 1904 Om Koultoum, Om Kalthoum, Oumme Kalsoum, and Umm Kolthoum. In Turkish, she is named Ümmü Gülsüm. She was an Egyptian singer, songwriter, and actress. Born in El Senbellawein, she is known as the Star of the East (kawkab el-sharq). More than three decades after her death, she is still recognized as one of the Arab world's most famous and distinguished singers of the 20th century.