Umm Kulthum tribute performance debuts at Jerash Festival in Jordan

The Southern Theatre in the ancient city of Jerash hosted the premiere of the musical play “Da’abeen fi Sawt al‑Sitt,” a tribute to the legacy of Egyptian diva Umm Kulthum. Produced by Medhat Al‑Adl and directed by Ahmed Fouad, the two‑hour show featured 15 songs spanning the singer’s career and was performed for the first time outside Egypt. Young performers Asma Al‑Jamal and Malik Ahmed portrayed Umm Kulthum at different stages of her life, while the production integrated archival recordings of her voice with newly composed music.

The performance opened the 40th Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts and attracted a diverse audience of Jordanians and foreigners. Al‑Adl praised the crowd, saying, “There is nothing better than this play than you,” and noted the enthusiastic applause as a sign that the tribute resonated with both older fans and younger listeners. The event was highlighted as a cultural bridge linking Jordan’s youth with classic Arabic musical heritage.