A ceremony was held to commemorate Arif Babayev’s, a prominent mugham singer and People's Artist, 80^th anniversary in the Culture Centre of Khazar University on February 27, 2018.

Honored instructor, Associate Professor and pianist Zulfiyya Sadigova, Head of the Department of Music and Art, opened the ceremony with a brief speech.

Prof. Hamlet Isakhanli, the founder of Khazar University and Chairman of its Board of Directors and Trustees, delivered a long speech about Arif Babayev’s mastery of mugham, which is based on ancient and rich traditions, and mentioned that Arif Babayev is warmly welcomed even by people of foreign countries to which he visit, and congratulated him on his birthday. Associate Professor Zulfiyya Sadigova read a letter of congratulation, with a Hamlet Isakhanli’s signature, on behalf of staff of Khazar University. Arif Babayev was presented a bunch of flowers and a gift.

Arif Babayev expressed his gratitude to university administration for the ceremony, and sang a piece of muhgam accompanied by Ramin Rzayev, a tar player, Mirnazim Asadullayev, a kaman player, and Farid Abbasov, a violinist.

Dr. Hassan Niknafs, rector, Mahammad Nuriyev, vice-rector for Academic Affairs, Isakhan Isakhanli, vice-rector for Administration and Student Affairs, deans, heads of departments, and other staff members participated at the ceremony.