Um Kalthum pieces inspire charity event in aid of the Bahrain children & mothers welfare society
Held under the patronage of Shaikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, event at MODA Mall marks the closing Um Kalthum, the Fourth Pyramid’ exhibition
MODA Mall, on the ground floor of the Bahrain World Trade Center, played host to a variety of VIPs and invited guests when pieces from the ‘Um Kalthum, the Fourth Pyramid’ exhibition were placed on sale. The event, held in MODA Mall’s Fashion Dome, was organised jointly by MODA Mall and the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Center for Culture and Research. The event held under the patronage of Shaikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Children and Mothers Welfare Society marked the closing of the Um Kalthum exhibition - which was on its maiden voyage outside of Europe - with part of the proceeds donated to the Bahrain Children and Mothers Welfare Society.
The items on sale we all inspired by the life and music of Um Kalthum, and included 100 ceramic handkerchiefs, cufflinks, cushions and ceramic pots all designed by Mr. Ammar Bashir, Design Director at Melablu Interiors and copies of the lyrics of Um Kalthum songs.
The Um Kalthum exhibit officially opened in January and was brought to Bahrain by the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Center for Culture and Research, in collaboration with the Arab World Institute, Paris; a foundation established to promote Arabic and the Arab world’s cultural heritage and spiritual values around the world. The exhibit was officially sponsored by MODA Mall, and ran from 10 January – 31 March, 2009.
Also on show at MODA Mall has been the Um Kalthum Photography exhibition, which opened in February to mark the anniversary of the artist’s death. Held in the Jewellery Dome at MODA Mall, the exhibit showcased a selection of Um Kalthum’s personal photography. These photographs were on display for the first time in Bahrain, and focused on Um Kalthum, her friends and relatives and her varied career as a singer, actor and icon.
Dr. Walid Shosha, Director of the Um Kalthum Museum in Cairo also paid a special visit to mark the exhibitions’ inaugural visit to the Middle East. More recently Dr. Victor Sahab, Vice President of the International Musical Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also gave a lecture on the forms of Um Kalthum songs at the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Center for Culture and Research.
In celebration of the closing of the exhibition, a concert was held by the Academic Band for Arabic Music (Um Kalthum), Cairo, who performed at the Bahrain Culture Hall. Renowned for its musical expertise and important contribution towards promoting Arabic culture and heritage across five continents, the group has been delighting audiences for almost half a century. Complementing the band, vocalist Nehad Fathi - who specialises in the voice of Um Kalthum - performed a selection of songs at the concert.
