Jazz Legend Herbie Hancock to Receive the 2025 Soka Global Citizen Award
Jazz titan and global humanitarian Herbie Hancock will receive the 2025 Soka Global Citizen Award, Soka University of America announced today. The honor celebrates Hancock’s six-decade journey as a musical innovator and cultural bridge-builder whose influence stretches far beyond the keyboard. SUA will present the award during a campus ceremony on May 8, 2025.
“Herbie Hancock embodies what it means to be a global citizen,” said SUA President Edward M. Feasel. “His peerless artistry and cultural leadership transcend borders, inspiring generations of musicians and youth through his groundbreaking music and unwavering commitment to peace, cultural exchange, and human dignity.”
A 14-time Grammy Award winner, Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Hancock has been in the vanguard of modern music since the early days of his career. From his trailblazing work with Miles Davis to his genre-defining albums like Maiden Voyage, Head Hunters, and Future Shock, Hancock has expanded musical boundaries and championed the role of humanism in art, blending jazz with funk, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music.
Hancock is a dedicated UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, where he spearheads International Jazz Day, uniting artists and audiences worldwide to celebrate jazz as a universal language of peace. As chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, he promotes cross-cultural collaboration and inspires emerging generations to harness creativity as a tool for citizen diplomacy that transcends borders, unites people, and fosters empathy.
Hancock has often spoken about the profound connection between music, spirituality, and humanistic values. His commitment to individual and collective transformation aligns closely with SUA’s core philosophy of global citizenship, dialogue, and human dignity.
The Soka Global Citizen Award, established in 2021 by SUA to honor individuals who exemplify the ideals of global citizenship, carries a $25,000 stipend to support the recipient’s ongoing work. Hancock joins a distinguished list of past honorees: Ambassador Andrew Young, Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Wanjira Mathai, and Dr. Mirian Vilela, all recognized for their enduring contributions to humanity.