ANKARA — The 2025 World Ahi Awards ceremony, recognising tradespeople and artisans who uphold the centuries-old Ahi tradition, was held in the Turkish capital with broad participation from political figures, industry representatives and civil society.

Organised under the “We Are the Ahi of Anatolia, We Are the Family of Türkiye” project, supported by the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate for Relations with Civil Society, the event took place at the historic Musiki Muallim Mektebi Hall in Ankara.

The ceremony was hosted by the World Tradesmen and Craftsmen Association and the Ahi Institute. Among attendees were Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security Ahmet Aydın, senior political representatives, trade union leaders and members of parliament.

Commitment to Ahi Values

Opening the event, Fehmi Çalmuk, Chairman of the organising bodies, described the awards as a “historic milestone” in preserving and documenting the Ahi tradition. He also expressed disappointment over the absence of some invited officials.

“We will continue our efforts to sustain the Ahi culture in today’s world,” Çalmuk said, stressing the importance of maintaining ethical values in trade and craftsmanship.

The ceremony featured a folkloric performance by the Ankara Oğuz Seymenleri Association and a musical performance by renowned Turkish folk artist Bahri İlhan, who returned to the stage after many years.

“You Cannot Be a Good Master Without Being a Good Person”

Deputy Minister Ahmet Aydın presented awards to representatives of traditional professions at risk of disappearing, including broom-making, mother-of-pearl craftsmanship and Damascus steel artistry.

Highlighting the moral foundations of the Ahi philosophy, Aydın said:

“You cannot be a good master without being a good person. In our tradition, a shopkeeper first asks ‘are you well?’ rather than ‘what would you like to buy?’. This reflects that human wellbeing comes before profit.”

He also called for unity and ethical responsibility in a world facing ongoing conflicts and moral challenges.

Awards Across Categories

Awards were presented across multiple categories:

• Legacy Brands: Mehmet Hamdi İngegül of Gül Kuru Kahve, a business established in 1922 in Ankara’s Hacıbayram district, was recognised for preserving a historic brand.
• Third-Generation Craftsmen: Awards were given to Mustafa Gençcan (Çorum) and Abdullah Bakışgan (Gaziantep) for sustaining family trades.
• Cultural Heritage: Historian and photographer Faruk Küçük was honoured for his work documenting Ankara’s history and Ahi culture.
• Business Achievement: AVNI ONGURLAR (Hafız Mustafa 1864), Hayrullah Türker and Hüseyin Taklacı received awards for contributions to their respective sectors.
• Art and Craft Integration: Folk musician Bahri İlhan was recognised for combining artistic expression with Ahi values.
• Post-Disaster Solidarity: An award in the “Tradesmen of Disaster” category was presented on behalf of Adıyaman’s craftsmen community.

The event concluded with a strong emphasis on preserving ethical trade traditions and passing Ahi values on to future generations.