Each year, on the anniversary of the death of the legendary Kurdish artist Muhammad Mamli, the Mamli Center presents an honorary award to a distinguished Kurdish artist. This prestigious award plays a vital role in preserving and promoting Kurdish art, motivating artists to continue their work and contributing to the growth of the cultural landscape.
Muhammad Saeed Ali, known as “Mamli,” was born in 1925 in the Khrei district of Mahabad in Eastern Kurdistan. He passed away on January 23, 1999, in Mahabad after a long illness. Hailing from a family with a rich musical heritage, Mamli was inspired from an early age to pursue art, becoming one of the pioneers of Kurdish music. His musical journey began in 1938, when he recorded his first song. Over the years, Mamli developed strong relationships with fellow artists and recorded over 700 songs, leaving a lasting legacy in Kurdish music.
The Mamli Award, established by the Mamli Center, has been honoring influential Kurdish artists for the past 16 years. The award recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to the preservation and development of Kurdish art. It serves as a tribute to Mamli’s legacy and a testament to the continued vitality of Kurdish culture.
This year, the Mamli Award was presented to Ali Akbar Moradi, a respected Kurdish artist from Eastern Kurdistan. Previous recipients of the award include notable figures such as Qala Mara, Andreas Israel Khamo, Abbas Kamandi, Aziz Sharoukh, Naser Razazi, Zozan, the Sulaymaniyah Music Band, Mazhar Khaleqi, Khalil Khamgin, Hussein Safamanesh, Muhammad Reza Darabi, Dilshad Saeed, Kawa Faqiezadeh, and Shvan Parwar.
Through the Mamli Award, the Mamli Center continues to celebrate and honor the contributions of those who have dedicated their lives to advancing Kurdish music and culture.