At the closing ceremony of the Aga Khan Music Awards in Lisbon, a final concert that brought together ten laureates, six categories and 13 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North America was held on 31 March in a showcase for diversity and pluralism through music.
The Aga Khan Music Awards inaugural ceremony concluded in Lisbon where the Awards were presented by His Highness, President of the Portuguese Republic Professor Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and Prince Amyn.
Lisbon, Portugal, 31 March 2019 - The gala concert and prize-giving ceremony recognised all the laureates and finalists of the Aga Khan Music Awards 2019. It was attended by His Highness the Aga Khan, Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Prince Hussain Aga Khan, Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, and His Excellency the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Mustafa Said is the first winner of the Aga Khan Music Awards performance prize.
Mustafa Said, renowned Egyptian Oud player and composer was officially announced winner of the prestigious Aga Khan award in Lisbon, Portugal on 31 March.
On 29 March, the inaugural Aga Khan Music Awards began with a high-profile opening ceremony in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. In his opening remarks, Prince Amyn Aga Khan said the awards is a timely reminder of the role arts plays in strengthening society.
The honorary award of music has been granted to Iranian singer Mohammad-Reza Shajarian at Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon.
On 29 March, at a grand ceremony at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon, the Aga Khan Music Initiative launched the first-ever edition of the Aga Khan Music Awards.
"The Aga Khan Music Award in Performance is presented to Mustafa Said," said David Harrington, one of the AKMA jury members, shortly after all the finalists took the stage to perform the best of their repertoire at the Calouste Gulbenkian Centre in Lisbon, Portugal.
“The technological forces that are reshaping our world now mean that neighbours who live on the other side of the planet are as close to us as our neighbours who live across the street. In such a world, peace and progress require that we promote a pluralist agenda, that we invest in a cosmopolitan ethic. These Music Awards aim to be an investment in that promotion.”