Together with British Island Records founder Clive Blackwell and Estonian composer Arvo Part, Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo was awarded the 2023 Polar Music Prize, one of Europe’s top musical honors, on Tuesday.
The five-time Grammy winner sings in her native Fon and Yoruba languages in addition to French and English, and is hailed as “one of the best singer-songwriters in international music” by the Polar Music Prize organizers in Sweden.
She is best known for her hits “Agolo” and “We We,” which Time magazine called “Africa’s premier diva.”
Blackwell established the Jamaican record company Island Records, which went on to sign legends like Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Roxy Music, and U2.
The committee singled out Estonian composer Arvo Part, who they referred to as “the world’s most played living composer,” for developing the “unique composing technique, tintinnabuli,” in the 1970s.
Former ABBA manager Stig Anderson established the Polar Music Prize in 1989, which last year recognized US songwriter Diane Warren and Iggy Pop.
The winners will be presented with their 600,000 kroner ($58,000) award on May 23 in Stockholm.