French-Benine singer Angélique Kidjo won the International Music Award for the Polar Countries, sharing it with Chris Blackwell, founder of the British production company “Island Records” and Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
Kidjo, who was born in 1960, a month before Benin gained its independence, has been singing for more than 30 years in her father’s and mother’s languages (Fon and Yoruba), and in French and English as well.
The Swedish jury members affirmed that “Kidjo is an inspiration, and is among the best composers and singers in the world.”
The singer, who was dubbed “Africa’s Diva” by Time magazine, has previously won five Grammy Awards.
As for the British Chris Blackwell (85 years), he established the “Island Records” company in 1959, which became one of the most prominent companies after dealing with Bob Marley, Cat Stevens and the two bands “Roxy Music” and “U2”.
The jury indicated that the winner, Arvo Bart (87 years old), is “the most alive composer whose pieces are played in the world,” and he is credited with innovating in the seventies of the last century a technique in musical writing, which is “Tintinapoli.”
