Angelique Kidjo Becomes The Third African To Receive The Polar Music Prize
Angelique Kidjo, a multi-award-winning Beninese music legend, has been announced as one of three 2023 Polar Music Prize recipients.
Founded in 1989 by ABBA manager Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, the Sweden-based Polar Music Prize has been awarded since 1992 and is considered to be among the most prestigious honors in the music industry. Past winners include Paul McCartney (1992), Elton John (1995), Stevie Wonder (1999), Björk (2010), and Sting (2017).
Angelique Kidjo becomes just the third African artist to win the prize since it began in 1992. She joins only two previous recipients from the African continent: South Africa’s Miriam Makeba in 2002 and Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour in 2013.
“To be awarded the Polar Music Prize is humbling,” Kidjo says in the release. “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.”
The ceremony will take place on May 23 in Stockholm.
