Date: November 23, 2025
Location: United Kingdom
Speaker: Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan
Source URL: View original on AKDN
Source: AKDN website
Full Text
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim.
It is a privilege to be with you this evening.
These Awards began as a vision shared by my father, His Highness Karim Aga Khan, and my uncle, Prince Amyn, who is with us tonight. Their conviction was that music, deeply rooted in the diverse cultures of the Muslim world, could be a source of strength – both for individuals and for societies.
When my father inaugurated the first Awards in Lisbon in 2019, he reminded us that in some parts of the world, the words Muslim and music are not often linked together. He spoke about how, across centuries and continents, Muslim civilisations have embraced music as a language of reflection, beauty, and faith.
There is something very special about simply being able to create sound with intention. From every corner of the world, people with talent and something to share find ways to reach others through music. Perhaps that is why it is one of the few spaces where difference does not divide us – it allows all of us to share emotion without translation.
The musicians that we honour tonight embody both mastery and generosity. Their artistry is not only technical – it is human. Through their work, they transmit knowledge, values, and stories that have travelled through generations.
This is why the Aga Khan Music Awards are not simply a ceremony of recognition – they are a statement of belief: that culture is a foundation of development, and that creativity is a form of service.
Underlying all of this is the principle of pluralism which my father so often spoke about. The understanding that our differences are not barriers but bridges.
In a time when noise often overwhelms understanding, these artists invite us to pause, to hear, and to reflect. Their music reminds us that unity does not require uniformity – it grows from the dialogue of many voices, and is harmonised by mutual respect.
It gives me great pleasure now to invite back to the stage the remarkable winners of the 2025 Aga Khan Music Awards. Thank you.