Selda Bağcan, a Global Voice of Turkish Music, to Receive the 29th Aydın Doğan Award

Established in 1997, the Aydın Doğan Award celebrates individuals and organisations whose achievements in fields including culture, the arts, literature and science have earned national and international recognition. This year, the award honours excellence in music.

In a statement, the Aydın Doğan Foundation said:

“The Board of Trustees of the Aydın Doğan Foundation has selected Selda Bağcan as the recipient of the 29th Aydın Doğan Award in recognition of her pioneering role in bringing Turkish music to a global audience. Throughout a career spanning more than half a century, she has given voice to the emotions of the people and their pursuit of social justice, sharing Anatolia’s rich cultural heritage with the world through her music. Since the 1970s, her distinctive interpretations and songs of struggle and hope have earned her deep respect both in Türkiye and across the international music community. By blending folk traditions with contemporary music, she continues to inspire younger generations.”

Bağcan will receive the award at a ceremony in November.

Selda Bağcan: A Voice Beyond Borders

Born Havva Selda Bağcan on 14 December 1948 in Muğla, Bağcan developed her musical talents from an early age, playing the mandolin and guitar. She began her professional music career in 1971 while studying physics engineering at Ankara University’s Faculty of Science, quickly gaining national recognition with a succession of singles. Combining traditional Anatolian folk songs, the poetry of folk bards and lyrics addressing social justice with innovative arrangements, she became one of the founding and most influential figures in Anatolian pop and rock.

Her music has transcended borders, inspiring artists around the world. Her rendition of “İnce İnce Bir Kar Yağar” has reached new audiences through reinterpretations by international artists, while her songs have featured prominently at international events and on world music charts.

Alongside numerous music awards in Türkiye, Bağcan has been honoured at festivals around the world. She was also named one of 81 iconic female singers on the international “Living Legends and Historic Female Singers in World Music” list, where she was recognised as the “Legendary Anatolian Singer.”

With a career spanning more than half a century, Bağcan remains a legendary figure in Turkish and world music, celebrated for a body of work enriched by contemporary orchestration, her powerful interpretations and live performances that bring generations together.