The Center of Arab and Mediterranean Music in Tunis has won the Arab Academy of Music (AAM) award for the year 2009.

Perched on the hills of Sidi Bou Said, north of Tunis, the Center which is also known as "Ennejma Ezzahra" has been a source of inspiration for generations of Tunisian musicians and musical historians.

It is the third time Tunisia is honored, after two Tunisia musical scholars Saleh El Mahdi and Mahmoud Qtat received the prize in 1999 and 2002 respectively.

The AAM, which is placed under the aegis of the Arab League and headquartered in Cairo, distinguishes each year scholars, composers, singers and musical institutions that have contributed to promote Arab traditional music.

The 2009 laureates also include Algerian singer Warda, Moroccan musical scholar Abdelaziz Ben Abdujalil and Iraqi composer Habib Zahir Abbas. Each of the laureates will receive a bronze trophy in addition to 5,000 U.S.-dollar prize money.

Since its inception in 1998, the Arab Academy of Music has striven to promote Arab musical heritage and culture by holding specialized conferences and presentations throughout the Arab world.