For the first time in the history of the Prize, both laureates share a common grounding in the world of music. Through their respective journeys, they demonstrate the power of music to keep Arab culture alive, renew its forms of expression and build lasting bridges between cultures.
Brahim El Mazned, a Moroccan producer and cultural entrepreneur, is being honoured for his commitment to music as a vehicle for transmission, dialogue and cultural influence. Through his initiatives, he has worked for many years to bring the richness of Moroccan and Arab musical expressions to audiences far beyond their borders. The Jury praised the transnational scope of his work, his role in strengthening intercultural dialogue, his contribution to structuring the artistic sector and his sustained commitment to young people.
Dhow Countries Music Academy, a leading institution based in Zanzibar, is being recognized for its work in preserving, transmitting and renewing a musical heritage shaped by the historical exchanges between East Africa and the Arab world. By training young musicians and promoting traditions such as taarab, the Academy keeps alive a cultural expression in which Swahili heritage and Arab influences meet, fully reflecting the Prize’s mission to highlight the richness and reach of Arab culture beyond its borders.
About the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture
Created in 1998 with the support of the Emirate of Sharjah, the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture is awarded each year to two individuals, groups or institutions, for their exceptional contribution to the promotion and dissemination of Arab culture, as well as to dialogue among cultures. It fully reflects UNESCO’s commitment to cultural diversity and mutual understanding.
Through this 21st edition, UNESCO pays tribute to two exemplary commitments that show how music remains a powerful vehicle of memory, transmission and dialogue.
READ MORE:https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-sharjah-prize-arab-culture-celebrates-music-its-21st-edition?hub=701
