Monsurat
Angélique Kidjo has been named one of the laureates for the 2023 Polar Music Prize. The five-time Grammy Award winning Beninese singer-songwriter, was named alongside Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, one of the most successful independent record labels in the UK, and Estonian Arvo Pärt, one of the world’s most performed classical composers.
The Polar Music Prize ceremony will take place on Tuesday May 23, in Stockholm at the Grand Hotel, where all three will be honored in the presence of the Swedish Royal Family. Each Laurette will receive a sum of 600,000 Swedish Kroner (approximately £47,681/US $57,384).
Reacting to the win, the international music icon @angeliquekidjo Tweeted “so proud to be the Laureate of the @polarmusicprize (the most prestigious music prize in the world!) with Chris Blackwell, the founder of @islandrecords and #arvopärt. Thanks to my fans, my family, my team and to the African continent which has always inspired and supported me!”
The Polar Music Prize has been awarded since 1992 and is dubbed to be one of the most prestigious music honors. The Laureates are selected by the Polar Music Prize committee, an independent 11-member board.
Previous recipients of the award from Africa are South Africa’s Miriam Makeba in 2002 and Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour in 2013. Other previous recipients include Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Chuck Berry, Joni Mitchell and many more.
Kidjo also described the win as “humbling” in the release. She said “to be awarded the Polar Music Prize is humbling. I have no words to say how important this is for me. It comes with a sense of responsibility that is bestowed upon me as an artist to continue to do great work.
“I will do my best to be a proud recipient of the prize through my work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador of music, to help create a world in which we can all live in peace. Thank you so much for making me part of this prestigious Prize, in such prestigious company.”
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