In a celebration of Kurdish excellence and heritage, eight remarkable individuals received the prestigious Golden Bla Awards in Sulaymaniyah on April 26, 2025. The ceremony, attended by high-profile leaders including PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani and Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, honored the legacy of Ibrahim Ahmed while recognizing outstanding contributions to Kurdish society across various fields.
A Gathering of Kurdish Leadership and Distinguished Guests
The Golden Bla Awards ceremony began with a solemn minute of silence honoring Ibrahim Ahmed and the martyrs of Kurdistan, followed by the Kurdish national anthem “Ey Raqib.” Attendees then viewed a documentary chronicling the life and enduring influence of Ibrahim Ahmed, the Kurdish leader known as “Bla” whose legacy the awards commemorate.
First Lady Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, daughter of the late Kurdish leader, delivered a moving keynote address, noting that despite her father’s passing 25 years ago, “his poetry and ideas resonate as if they were written for today.” She emphasized Ibrahim Ahmed’s crucial role in advocating for Kurdish-Arab brotherhood and peaceful coexistence throughout his life as a writer, politician, Peshmerga fighter, attorney, and journalist.
The ceremony drew a diverse audience from all four parts of Kurdistan and Iraq, underscoring the awards’ significance as a unifying cultural event in the region. Since their inception in 2001, the Bla Awards have evolved to recognize excellence across an expanding range of categories.
Eight Distinguished Honorees Recognized for Excellence
This year’s Golden Bla Awards recognized an impressive array of recipients for their contributions to Kurdish society:
Ayatollah Muhsin al-Hakim received the award as “an ideal friend of the Kurds,” honoring his historic fatwa prohibiting the shedding of Kurdish blood, a decision that significantly protected Kurdish communities.
From West Kurdistan, Salih Haydo was honored as “an ideal writer,” while the posthumous award for “ideal struggler” went to Comrade Abdo (Sharvan Kobane), who sacrificed his life defending Kurdish dignity.
Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, was recognized as “an ideal leader.” PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani accepted this award on Abdi’s behalf, expressing “great pride” in his “revolutionary brother.”
Other honorees included Zara Mohammadi from East Kurdistan as “an ideal teacher and preserver of the Kurdish Language,” Osman Kemnayi from South Kurdistan as “an ideal artist,” Amed Sport Club from North Kurdistan as “an ideal sports club,” and Fahima Wahid Majid as “an ideal mother.”
Preserving Kurdish Heritage While Building Future Leaders
The Ibrahim Ahmed Foundation, which organizes the annual ceremony, aims to honor both the legacy of Ibrahim Ahmed and recognize contemporary excellence that embodies his values. Born in Sulaymaniyah in 1914, Ahmed studied law at the University of Baghdad and worked as a judge before co-founding the Kurdish literary journal Gelawêj. His contributions to Kurdish literature, particularly as a pioneer in storytelling and novel writing, left an indelible mark on Kurdish culture before his death in London on April 8, 2000.
In his remarks, PUK President Talabani described the ceremony as “a profound and historic opportunity to recognize and honor those who have devoted their lives to the service of the Kurdish people across political, cultural, and social spheres.” He added that the awards “stand as a testament to our enduring gratitude towards our friends and supporters — those who have remained steadfast through every stage of our struggle, defending our identity, safeguarding our existence, and contributing to the sovereignty of Kurdistan.”
By celebrating both historical figures like Ibrahim Ahmed and contemporary leaders across diverse fields, the Golden Bla Awards ceremony serves as both a remembrance of Kurdish heritage and a recognition of those currently advancing Kurdish society, culture, and rights throughout the region.
