Singing Revolution

(3 Credits)

This course explores singing as a powerful medium for engaging with histories of decolonization, revolution and feminism. Focusing on the politics of song and contribution of female vocalists, we examine the cross-cultural significance of four iconic singers, Umm Kulthum, Fairuz, Asmahan and Warda al-Jazairia. We investigate how these artists shaped modern Arab identities and diasporic understandings of belonging, particularly within the historical context of the British Empire and its metropole. From Asmahan’s alleged involvement in British espionage, to Fairuz’s performances at the Royal Albert Hall, to West End musicals about Umm Kulthum and Asmahan, London is a living archive of Arab cultural memory. Through academic inquiry, critical self-reflection and performance-based exploration at concerts, theatres and participatory workshops, students expand their investigation across wider geographies to ask: how and why does song transcend time and space to leave a lasting global impact? Building on this, students will curate a program of vocal works exploring the political role of song and its power as a tool for communication, propaganda, resistance, and social change.