N’Dour wins music prize

Other winners of the prize include Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin, the soprano Renée Fleming and violinist Isaac Stern.

Senegalese music star Youssou N’Dour, the King of Mbalax turned minister, and a Finnish composer, Kaija Saariaho, are joint winners of the 2013 Polar Music Prize, which has been awarded since 1992 with funds raised by Stig Anderson, former manager of Swedish pop group, ABBA. The prize is awarded yearly to world music icons.

“Youssou N’Dour, the praising of West Africa is not only an ordinary singer, but also a story teller, poet, an entertainment artiste and a directory of oral tradition,” said the jury.

It added that he was perpetuating the praising singer heritage and this demonstrates that it can be used to recount not only Africa, but the whole world.

‘’But among all, the voice of the artiste contains history, passion, hope and the energy of the entire continent,’’ the jury continued.
N’Dour, 53, has earned significant success in his career, including winning Grammys. He joined politics in 2012, when he attempted to run for the presidency of Senegal, but rescinded the decision and teamed up with the civil society-backed opposition. The award recognises laureates for their contribution to world music in all its forms.

Other winners of the prize include Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin, the soprano Renée Fleming and violinist Isaac Stern.

This year’s other laureate, Saariaho, 60, “occupies a singular position among composers and questions even the notion of music.” He was trained in a music school in Paris, France, and has produced various styles, including orchestra and opera.