Laureates of the Fukuoka Prize 2016 were announced today.
Convened today, the Fukuoka Prize Committee has given final approval to the laureates selected by the Prize Jury.
The laureates for the fiscal year 2016 are as follows :
Grand Prize 2016
- A. R. RAHMAN
- India / Composer, Song writer, Singer
- By his world-famous music, Mr. A. R. Rahman has opened up a new arena for film music, and has become a driving-force of this field to gain it a new recognition. His bold fusion of traditional South Asian, classical Western and popular contemporary American hip-hop and other music has created a number of unforgettable tunes with pleasing melodies and a powerful beat. They have become synonymous with the films for which he wrote them, and resonate in many hearts.
Academic Prize 2016
Philippines / Public Historian, Journalist, Author, Cultural Administrator
Dr. Ambeth R. Ocampo is an outstanding historian and an intellectual who has contributed to academic, cultural and social progress in the Philippines, through his positions as an academic and a newspaper columnist, and through his service in executive and advisory roles in historical and cultural administration. By providing a clear explanation of the global context within which Philippine history has developed, he has played an important role in promoting an open-minded nationalism and international exchange.
Arts and Culture Prize 2016
Pakistan / Architect, Architectural Historian, Heritage Conservationist, Humanitarian Aid Worker
Ms. Yasmeen Lari founded the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan and has been involved in the preservation and conservation of historical buildings, while also designing contemporary architectural projects as the country’s first woman architect. Since the Great Earthquake in 2005, she has also been energetically working for humanitarian aid. As a pioneering leader in Pakistan’s society and culture, her contribution to cultural heritage preservation and to the development of a disaster-resistant society has been enormous.