For a long time, “Eid” parties have had a special taste and flavour, as they have been associated with Egypt’s biggest stars, to perform parties in big clubs. Al-Ahly Club has witnessed many, many concerts on holiday nights, which were performed by top Egyptian singing stars.
The great sports critic and journalist Hassan Al-Mestakawi says in his book “Al-Ahly Club”: “Since the end of the thirties, the king began attending the opera concert, and Al-Ahly was preparing for it with precision and order, and on March 13, 1941, King Fouad attended the club concert at the Opera House, and Youssef Wehbe’s troupe performed… A novel by a girl in schools. Al-Ahly Club had a committee for internal management and parties this year, formed by the Board of Directors, and composed of professors Fikri Abaza, Mustafa Amin, and Dr. Badawi Al-Shetty.
He added: “Umm Kulthum was the star of Al-Ahly’s concerts in the forties and fifties, and she was the singing lady. Although the club benefited from the income to spend on some aspects of its activities, it sometimes contributed this income to charitable projects, such as the Hospital Day Project in 1943, where it donated the income from Umm’s concert.” Kulthum, after deducting expenses, was 200 pounds. Umm Kulthum’s concert income exceeded a thousand pounds in the fifties, and she received a wage of 500 pounds at that time. Given Al-Ahly’s status and Umm Kulthum’s status, King Farouk would attend club concerts, and the lady of Arabic singing says In one of her radio interviews, in response to the question, “Is it possible to know the happiest night you experienced in your artistic life?”
Umm Kulthum
Umm Kulthum replied: “Praise be to God and I am thankful for His grace and grace. I have had many happy nights in my life, but one of these nights overshadowed all that preceded them, which was when I was singing at the Al-Ahly Club radio concert on the night of Eid Al-Fitr, and then Al-Farouq’s countenance rose over me. The place spreads joy among everyone, making the Eid two Eids.”
Al-Mustakawi continued: “In fact, King Farouk’s attendance at Umm Kulthum’s concert at Al-Ahly Club in September 1944 was a surprise, and the great journalist Mustafa Amin convinced him to attend this ceremony. Mustafa Amin was a member of the club and one of the officials of the concert committee, and at this time the occupation authorities had I issued an order to all newspapers and publications issued in Egypt not to mention the king’s name or news about him, because Farouk during World War II was loyal to the Axis forces, and because Umm Kulthum’s concert was broadcast live on the radio. Mustafa Amin succeeded in convincing the king that his presence would be broadcast live. Directly over the air, and that will anger the English.”
He continued: “When the king entered the Al-Ahly Club, the members welcomed him with a storm of applause, to spite the British, and chants rose in his name, and King Farouk felt overjoyed, so he bestowed upon Umm Kulthum a distinction of perfection in this ceremony, and Mustafa Amin informed Umm Kulthum at the same time. Tonight, she was very happy.”
