أم كلثوم (the name is Romanised in many different variations, including Oum Kalthoum, Umm Kulthum, Om Kalsoum). Born فاطمة إبراهيم البلتاجي, Faṭma Ibrahim el-Beltagi) (31st December 1904–3rd February 1975) was an Egyptian singer, songwriter, and actress. Born in El Senbellawein, she is known as "the Star of the East". More than three decades after her death, she is still recognised as the Arab world's most famous and distinguished singer of the twentieth century.