Grammy-award-winning singer and music legend, Angelique Kidjo has won the Polar Music Prize award, becoming the third African artiste in history to ever win the award.
The Polar Music Prize, which is also known as the Nobel Prize of Music, is a Swedish international award founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, who was the Manager of the Swedish band ABBA, with a donation to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
The annual award is given to one contemporary musician and one classical musician. This year’s edition saw Kidjo announced as the 2023 winner, alongside Chris Blackwell from the United Kingdom and Arvo Pärt from Estonia.
Speaking after receiving the award, Kidjo 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, on behalf of the children, and as an ambassador of music, to help create a world in which we can all live in peace.”
South Africa’s Mariam Makeba in 2002 and Senegalese Youssou N’dour in 2013 are the other two African artistes to have won the prestigious award.
