African artists named among 2025 Aga Khan Music Award laureates

Mariam Bagayoko from Mali, aged 87, has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her long-standing contribution to safeguarding and promoting Mali’s musical traditions. Known as the “Nightingale of Bélédougou”, Bagayoko is celebrated for her commanding vocal presence and extensive knowledge of traditional repertories. She is also regarded as a master of the n’goussounbala, a large balafon associated with Bélédougou in central Mali, a region historically linked to the pre-colonial Bambara Empire. Her mentorship of women and girls has played a central role in supporting the transmission of Mali’s musical and dance practices across generations.

Senegalese artist Senny Camara has also been recognised. A kora player, singer and songwriter, she is noted for bringing a distinctly modern and feminine perspective to an instrument traditionally performed by men. Her music, performed in multiple regional languages, addresses issues such as gender equality, environmental responsibility and social justice, resonating with audiences across West Africa and in the diaspora.

The third African laureate, Moroccan musician Hamid El Kasri, is a master of the Gnawa tradition, known for his work as a guembri player, singer and maâlem (master musician). El Kasri has contributed to maintaining and revitalising Gnawa music while engaging in collaborations with international artists, including pianist Joe Zawinul, jazz fusion group Snarky Puppy and British multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier, with whom he performed at the BBC Proms.

The Aga Khan Music Awards recognise individuals, groups and institutions whose work sustains cultural heritage while promoting spiritual understanding, community cohesion and resilience. Alongside a share of the prize fund, laureates receive support for professional development, including new commissions, recording projects, management assistance and initiatives in education and preservation.

The 2025 laureates will be honoured on 21 and 22 November at the Southbank Centre in London. The awards ceremony will form part of a four-day festival of music from the “Great East”, presented in collaboration with the EFG London Jazz Festival.