London: Qalali Folk Band has been awarded the 2025 Aga Khan Music Award during an official ceremony held at London's Southbank Centre, in collaboration with the EFG London Jazz Festival. The ceremony was attended by His Highness Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, along with a distinguished gathering of international cultural and artistic figures.
According to Bahrain News Agency, this prestigious recognition marks international acknowledgement of Qalali Folk Band's prominent role in preserving and showcasing Bahrain's seafaring musical heritage in a contemporary form that reflects the Kingdom's rich cultural identity. The band received the award in appreciation of its decades-long journey and tireless efforts to safeguard the traditional arts of Fjiri and Nahma, presenting them creatively to engage global audiences. Its work draws inspiration from the legacy of Bahrain's early seafaring singers, particularly the renowned naham Salem Al Allan, whose artistry remains one of the foundations of the band's distinctive style and enduring legacy.
During the ceremony, the Qalali Folk Band delivered a captivating performance of Bahri, one of the principal forms of Fjiri, embodying the spirit of the naham aboard the ship, the voice that once stirred the hearts of sailors and helped them endure the hardships of the sea. The performance also featured segments of Fjiri accompanied by traditional drums and instruments, rhythmic clapping, and folk dance, authentically capturing the soul of Bahrain's maritime heritage. The event also included musical performances by international ensembles from West Africa, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), affirmed that this achievement represents a well-deserved international honour that reflects the value of national efforts to preserve Bahrain's musical heritage. He noted that the award enhances Bahrain's presence on the global cultural map and highlights the unique character of its folk traditions on prestigious international platforms.
Saad Bu Jaffal, Head of Qalali Folk Band, expressed his pride in receiving the award, describing it as the result of the band's deep commitment to preserving Bahrain's maritime heritage and passing it on to future generations. This achievement aligns with UNESCO's inscription of Fjiri on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, further reinforcing Bahrain's status as a beacon of Gulf musical heritage.
With a legacy spanning more than a century, Qalali Folk Band continues to uphold its mission of preserving Bahrain's seafaring folk traditions and presenting performances that embody the nation's identity, standing as a national symbol and an ever-growing presence on the global stage.