Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour and Finnish composer
Kaija Saariaho have been named as the recipients of this year's Polar Music
Prize.
Sweden's
highest musical honour is awarded annually to both a pop performer and
classical artist.
The pair will
each receive one million kronor (£98,600) from the Royal Swedish Academy of
Music.
King Carl XVI
Gustaf will present them with their awards at a Stockholm ceremony on 27
August.
The prize is
awarded for "exceptional achievements in the creation and advancement of
music".
The academy
recognised N'Dour as "not just a singer, but a storyteller, poet, singer
of praise, entertainer and verbal historian".
"With his
exceptionally exuberant band Super Etoile de Dakar and his musically ground
breaking and political solo albums, Youssou N'Dour has worked to reduce
animosities between his own religion, Islam, and other religions," it
said.
"His voice
encompasses an entire continent's history and future, blood and love, dreams
and power."
Saariaho, who
has written chamber music, orchestral works and operas, was praised as "a
modern maestro who opens up our ears and causes their anvils and stirrups to
fall in love".
The prize was
founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, the manager of Swedish pop group ABBA.
Last year's
winners were US singer Paul Simon and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Other previous
winners include Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Bjork and Patti
Smith.
Source: BBC
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