London, UK
On 21 November 2025, at Southbank Centre, Prince Amyn Aga Khan conferred the Aga Khan Music Awards distinguished Patron’s Award upon Naseer and Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi, and Ustad Naseeruddin Saami — two of South Asia’s most remarkable musical artists.
Both the Warsi and Saami musical lineages trace their heritage to Amir Khusrau, the esteemed 13th-century Sufi poet, musician, and visionary polymath who profoundly shaped the cultural history of South Asia.
Credited with creating the qawwali and khyal traditions, Amir Khusrau remains an enduring symbol of cultural pluralism. For over seven centuries, the music and poetry of his disciples have served as a force for harmony and connection, illustrating the power of art to unite communities across divides.
In his remarks, Prince Amyn paid tribute to the laureates. “It is especially meaningful for me,” he said, “to bestow the Patron’s Award on these distinguished artists, who have so vigorously shared Amir Khusrau’s legacy of humanitarianism and pluralism with audiences in both South Asia and around the world.”
Leading exponents of qawwali, the devotional Sufi music of South Asia, brothers Naseer and Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi are devoted custodians of shrine service and Khusrau’s classical repertoire. They continue to bring his musical and spiritual legacy to audiences across India and the world.
Revered for his mastery of khyal — the art of melodic improvisation within the framework of raga (melody) and tala (rhythm ) — Ustad Naseeruddin Saami headlines a renowned qawwali group, together with his four sons, that preserves and reinterprets Khusrau’s poetic, musical and spiritual heritage.
More information and photos at The.Ismaili
About Aga Khan Music Awards
Established in 2018 by Mawlana Shah Karim Aga Khan IV and Prince Amyn, the Awards recognise exceptional creativity and enterprise in music creation, performance, education, preservation, and revitalisation in societies across the world in which Muslims have a significant presence. Award recipients share a prize fund of $500,000, as well as opportunities for professional development.
The first Music Awards ceremony took place in Lisbon, Portugal in March 2019. It was co-hosted by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Lisbon Municipality.
The second ceremony took place in Muscat, Oman in October 2022 in the Royal Opera House Muscat’s House of Musical Arts.
Winners of the 2023-2025 Cycle
Winners of the 2020-2022 Cycle
Winners of the 2018-2019 Cycle
More information at Aga Khan Development Network
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