Aga Khan Development Network. Each year, in collaboration with its partners, the AKDN provides 5 million people.
The Aga Khan is one of the world’s most generous philanthropists and the spiritual leader of more than 15 million Ismaili Muslims worldwide.
He has spent the last 60 years beautifully bridging gaps between communities, ensuring his legacy breaks boundaries between religions, cultures and societies. But just who is he and why is this such a special year for him?
Who is the Aga Khan?
The Aga Khan’s full title is His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.
Although he is known as a man of few words, he is in fact the 49th and current spiritual leader of around 15 million Ismaili Muslims, who are scattered across 25 countries. While most Ismailis live in African and Asian countries – there are sizable communities in Britain as well as the US and Canada.
The Aga Khan has a British passport but he lives in France and is among the top 15 of the world’s wealthiest royals.
According to Forbes magazine, he’s worth an incredible £800 million.
He assumed the role of the 49th Imam (or spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Ismailis on July 11 1957 at the age of 20 – succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah.
When this happened, he was in his junior year at Harvard and it was the first time in the family’s 1,300-year history that a generation had been skipped over.
What is his Diamond Jubilee all about?
In 2017, the Aga Khan began his Diamond Jubilee year – that is, the completion of 60 years at the helm of the Ismaili community.
The last 11 months have seen countless celebration, festivities and the launch of dozens of new projects in his honour that will go on to benefit not just the Ismailis, but every man, woman and child worldwide, regardless of their creed, colour, background or financial standing.
The Diamond Jubilee year is effectively a celebration of the Aga Khan’s vision and tireless work, which has steered the Ismaili community through six decades of sweeping changes in the global landscape.
These changes have been on a scale that is unprecedented in history and during a period which has seen massive social, political and economic challenges.
The 81-year-old is also currently on a worldwide ‘tour’ where he is personally meeting as many of his followers as he is able, and using each visit to launch a Diamond Jubilee legacy project that will live on for generations.
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