Bahrain’s Qalali Folk Band has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 Aga Khan Music Awards, leading a list of 22 nominees from 16 countries, representing top musicians and artists worldwide, the Aga Khan Music Programme has announced.
This nomination honours the band’s rich history spanning more than a century, dedicated to preserving Bahrain’s authentic maritime musical traditions linked to pearl-diving songs, Naham chanting, and divers’ rhythms. Qalali Folk Band has become a leading example in protecting national heritage and a key part of Bahrain’s musical memory.
The Aga Khan Music Awards ceremony will be held at London’s Southbank Centre on November 22, with the final winners announced today.
This distinguished nomination is a national achievement reflecting pride in Bahrain’s folk heritage and its role in strengthening national identity as a living legacy passed through generations, preserving traditions that mirror the authentic civilisation of Bahrain.
Qalali Folk Band is one of Bahrain’s oldest traditional music groups, founded more than 100 years ago. The band is known for performing various Bahraini folk arts, especially Al Nahma, sung at sea during pearl-diving expeditions, and Al Fjiri, performed on land after the divers return.
These arts combine unique rhythms and dances expressing the artistic authenticity of Qalali village’s people in Muharraq.
Through its firm commitment to preserving and reviving this cultural heritage, Qalali Folk Band has established itself locally and internationally as a symbol of creativity based on sustaining Bahraini musical authenticity and a living witness to Bahrain’s artistic and heritage identity.
The Aga Khan Music Awards were launched in 2018 under the patronage of the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV and Prince Amyn Aga Khan to honour outstanding musical achievements in Islamic cultures.
The awards are presented every three years within the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) framework, which supports the sustainability and revival of musical traditions, strengthens links between heritage and innovation, and uses music to foster cultural dialogue and promote peace among peoples.
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