Pakistan's three musical maestros nominated for AKMA | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- The finalists for the Aga Khan Music Awards (AKMA) 2025 have been announced, featuring 22 international nominees.
- Three Pakistani artistsâJuman Latif, Ustad Noor Bakhsh, and Ustad Naseeruddin Saamiâare among the finalists.
- Ustad Naseeruddin Saami is noted as the only living master of the complex 49-microtonal Surti scale from the Delhi Gharana tradition.
- The awards ceremony will take place on November 22 at London's Southbank Centre, with winners sharing a $500,000 prize fund.
- The AKMA seeks to recognize creativity in music performance, education, and preservation in societies where Muslims have a significant presence, aiming to advance pluralism.
The finalists for the prestigious Aga Khan Music Awards (AKMA) 2025 have been revealed, highlighting 22 diverse artists globally, with three significant nominations coming from Pakistan. These nomineesâUstad Naseeruddin Saami, Juman Latif, and Ustad Noor Bakhshâunderscore the richness of Pakistan's musical heritage on an international stage. Saami is celebrated for sustaining the demanding 'Khayal' tradition and being the sole practitioner of the 49-microtonal Surti scale. Latif is nominated for his lifelong devotion to teaching and performing the spiritual raags of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. Bakhsh represents Balochistan, innovating with the benju while honoring traditional Balochi forms and South Asian ragas. The awards, established to advance pluralism through music, will announce winners on November 4, with the ceremony taking place on November 22 at London's Southbank Centre, where winners will share a $500,000 prize fund and receive professional support.
