Google reminded us on Wednesday that Amal al-Atrash – better-known as Asmahan – would be 103 if she were still alive today.
However, her fascinating life and musical career ended under mysterious circumstances when she was in her early thirties. So, who was Asmahan and why was her life cut tragically short?
Asmahan came from Levantine origins
The singer and actress' was born in either 1912 or 1917 – the year is disputed – to a Syrian Druze father and a Lebanese Druze mother. Asmahan's father was a governor in Turkey in the last days of the Ottoman Empire and fled to Beirut with the family in 1917. Some stories say Asmahan was born on the ship in transit. Growing up, Asmahan also lived in Damascus and Haifa, but eventually her mother took the children to settle in Cairo.
Her vocal talent was discovered at an early age
When famous Egyptian composer Dawood Hosni was visiting the family home, he overheard Asmahan singing in her room. He immediately decided to push her toward success and suggested she adopt the name she became known by. Quickly she rose to fame, debuting at the prestigious Cairo Opera House when she was still a teenager. She went on to record an album featuring her first song "Ya Nar Fouadi" by Farid Ghosn.
Egypt strongly influenced her music
Although she came from Levantine origins, Asmahan sang mainly in classical Arabic and colloquial Egyptian Arabic. However, she did sing some songs with a Levantine accent. Her favorite songs to perform were by legendary Egyptian musical stars Umm Kulthoum and Mohamed Abdel Wahab. When singing about patriotism, she referred to Egypt.
Due to family influences, she left her career for more than 5 years
Even though she was finding great success, Asmahan's family wanted her to marry and move to Syria. She finally agreed to marry her cousin, Hassan al-Atrash, but only under certain conditions. The marriage was short-lived, however, as she missed her musical career and lifestyle in Cairo. Even before the divorce was finalized, she returned to Egypt, drawing controversy for her free lifestyle. When her first film "Intisar al-Shabab" released in Syria, a Druze man is reported to have shot at the screen when she appeared.
She was also a spy
In 1941, at the request of the British and the Free French, Asmahan traveled to Jabal al-Druze in the Levant to inform the Druze that the British would be invading through the territory and to convince them not to oppose this action. She apparently received 40,000 British pounds for this mission. The Druze agreed as the British and Free French initially promised the independence of Lebanon and Syria, however they did not follow through. This caused Asmahan to attempt to contact the Nazis in Turkey, however she was caught and deported to Lebanon.
Asmahan died under mysterious circumstances
On July 14, 1944, a mysterious car accident killed Asmahan and a female friend in Mansoura, Egypt, when the singer was just in her early 30s. The driver however, managed to escape. Rumors were rampant about the suspicious death, especially following her association with both the British and the Nazis. Many believed that British intelligence decided to kill her after her attempt to reach the Nazis. Others accused the Germans of killing her for working with the British.
Her legacy
While the true reason for her death may remain unclear, Asmahan's talented legacy endures. In accordance with her wishes, she was buried in the Fustat plain in Cairo. During Ramadan in 2008, the Egyptian Media Production City released a series depicting her life, career and death starring Syrian actress Sulaf Fawakherji in the leading role. Her story and her music continues to fascinate and inspire many.