Eight Iconic Figures Receive Golden Bla Award

Kurdistan 06:12 PM - 2025-04-26

The Golden Bla Awards Ceremony.

The Golden Bla Awards ceremony was held in Sulaymaniyah on Saturday, 26 April 2025, honouring eight distinguished figures in the presence of Bafel Jalal Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, Iraqi First Lady Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, and a large gathering of guests from all four parts of Kurdistan, as well as from Iraq.

The event commenced with a minute of silence in memory of Ibrahim Ahmed and the martyrs of Kurdistan, followed by the playing of "Ey Raqib," the Kurdish national anthem. A documentary video recounting the life and legacy of Ibrahim Ahmed was then presented.

First Lady Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, daughter of the late Kurdish leader, delivered a keynote speech during the ceremony. She remarked, "Ibrahim Ahmed has been gone for 25 years, yet his poetry and ideas resonate as if they were written for today."

In her address, she also highlighted Ibrahim Ahmed’s pivotal role in advocating for Kurdish-Arab brotherhood and fostering peaceful coexistence.

This year's awards were presented to the following distinguished individuals and organisations:

-Ayatollah Muhsin al-Hakim was honoured with the Golden Bla Award as an ideal friend of the Kurds.

-Salih Haydo from West Kurdistan was honoured with the Golden Bla Award as an ideal writer.

-Zara Mohammadi from East Kurdistan was honoured with the Golden Bla Award as an ideal teacher and preserver of the Kurdish Language.

-Osman Kemnayi from South Kurdistan was honoured with the Golden Bla Award as an ideal artist.

-Amedspor from North Kurdistan was honoured with the Golden Bla as an ideal sports club.

-Fahima Wahid Majid was honoured with the Golden Bla Award as an ideal mother.

-Comrade Abdo from West Kurdistan was honoured with the Golden Bla Award as an ideal strugglers.

-Mazloum Abdi from West Kurdistan was honoured with the Golden Bla Award as an ideal leader.

What is the Bla Award?

Each year, the Ibrahim Ahmed Foundation hosts a celebration to honour the enduring legacy and indomitable spirit of the esteemed Ibrahim Ahmed. Ibrahim Ahmed, also known as "Bla" is a distinguished figure who has made significant contributions as a leader, politician, Peshmerga fighter, attorney, author, and journalist.

As part of the event, the Foundation presents the prestigious Golden Bla Awards, recognising a diverse group of outstanding individuals across various fields. Honourees typically include exemplary mothers, Peshmerga fighters, students, artists, and authors, among others. Recipients are selected based on their achievements, dedication, and the impact they have made in their respective domains.

Since its inception in 2001, the Bla Awards have expanded to include various other categories, reflecting the evolving landscape of excellence and achievement within the community.

A brief biography of Ibrahim Ahmed (1914–2000)

Ibrahim Ahmed, the distinguished writer, politician, and intellectual, was born in Sulaymaniyah on 9 March 1914. Throughout his life, he was a prolific source of creative thought and imagination, leaving an enduring mark on Kurdish literature and politics. A trailblazer in the realm of storytelling and novel writing, he also gained recognition as a celebrated poet and journalist. Beyond his literary contributions, Ahmed was a committed advocate for the rights of the Kurdish people.

Pursuing higher education, Ahmed studied Law at the University of Baghdad, earning his degree in 1937. His professional career included serving as a judge in the cities of Erbil and Halabja from 1942 to 1944. Demonstrating a passion for literature early on, he co-founded the Kurdish literary journal Gelawêj with Alaaddin Sajadi in 1939, taking on the role of publisher while Sajadi served as Editor-in-Chief. Gelawêj officially released its first issue in 1949. It was during this period that Ahmed’s political engagement began to intensify.

Ibrahim Ahmed passed away in London on April 8, 2000, leaving behind a substantial and influential body of literary and political work that continues to inspire future generations.



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