Aziza Amir, with music by Umm Kulthum

I was the Land of Pharaohs’ film shaker
First I was Mofeda Mohamed Ghoneim
My humble origins were no dream breaker

My status and life would have changed in due time
Damietta, Alexandria, Cairo
Are the places were I spent most of my prime

Being a female artist could bring sorrow
My nation would shun women of performance
With the revolution, minds were less narrow

I changed name for theatrical conformance
It preserved the family reputation
Youssef Wahbi was a man of importance

The founder of Ramses marked my formation
I started acting in his stage company
To perform felt like such a liberation

I became Aziza Amir suddenly
Stockbroker Elie Derie was my patron
The Mayor of Samalout found me lovely

Ahmed El Sheirei chose me as his matron
Our nuptials created unpleasant headlines
I did not switch to a life in an apron

I quit the stage for passions of other kinds
With my Isis Film I began a new feat
Vedat Örfi Bengü didn’t meet my guidelines

Call Of Allah was exceedingly offbeat
Thus, I hired Stephan Rosti as director
Laila became the film everyone would greet

King Fuuad admired it through a projector
My dance was emulated by filmmakers
Cinema was developing a sector

Nationalism was crucial for lawmakers
I enjoyed performing in foreign pictures
I cherished working with all moviemakers

I directed my cinematic scriptures
Like The Girl From The Nile and Repent Your Sins
I chose a silent film with no sound mixtures

For a multicultural plot with love wings
And meanwhile I got divorced and remarried
With Ahmed’s brother, Mustafa, I exchanged rings

But my work in film caused him to be worried
Because I founded a business with a man
Mahmoud Zulficar’s presence made him flurried

Amir Film had all of my attention span
Hence, another separation and wedlock
The architect-turned-filmmaker was my man

The Talent Finder could make spectators flock
This Event Maker was the love of my life
Our partnership was as solid as a rock

We didn’t have kids but I was a happy wife
The daughter I adopted was Amira
We worked on a film where kith and kin were rife

I peeked into cinema’s talking era
The Godmother of Egyptian Cinema
Was my title and calling, no chimera.