Mugisho Nhonzi and Willy Nhonzi have been awarded the 2021 EDVARD Prize in the “Challenger” category for the important anti-racism song “Leve.” – We are happy to have been able to create a song about a painful and serious topic, which has affected so many people, said the brothers, when they received the award.
/ 06/10/2021 / Kristian DugstadWith the song Leve, Mugisho and Willy Nhonzi have created an important artistic contribution to the public conversation that followed Black Lives Matter. This is according to the EDVARD jury, which has named the brothers the winner of the Challenger category for 2021.
– With the song Leve, the brothers Mugisho and Willy Nhonzi have demonstrated an impressive ability to transform personal, painful experiences into powerful, current and universally valid storytelling, writes the EDVARD jury in its justification for why the two music creators receive the EDVARD award in the "Challenger" category.
The Nhonzi brothers were surprised by TONO during a planning meeting about an upcoming tour at their studio premises at Skedsmokorset.
– Thank you very much. It really means a lot that this type of topic can be highlighted here in Norway, and that people appreciate it.
See how it isto out when Mugisho and Willy Nhonzi were surprised with the prize in the video.
The story continues below the video..
The EDVARD Prize has been awarded annually by TONO since 1998, and is awarded in five categories to composers and lyricists who have created musical works of particularly high quality in the previous year. A highly qualified professional jury selects the winners.
– With the EDVARD Prize, we at TONO highlight some of the most beautiful new Norwegian music, honor those who make it, and remind Norwegians of how much we all have to thank the music creators for. The EDVARD jury believes that “Leve” is “… a strong political work and a great artistic achievement”. The song has already demonstrated its power, and there is every reason to expect that such a powerful work will continue to live on far into the future, says TONO’s communications manager, Willy Martinsen.
"With the song Leve, the brothers Mugisho and Willy Nhonzi have demonstrated an impressive ability to transform personal, painful experiences into powerful, current and universally valid storytelling. Leve is an important artistic contribution to the public conversation that followed Black Lives Matter. It is a strong political work and a great artistic achievement. One almost has to be numb not to be moved when the work's title is proclaimed as a battle cry in the chorus. A strong music video has created an extra dimension in the communication of the song. Together with director Kristoffer Nylund Grindheim and video producer Andreas Trøften Lie, Mugisho and Willy have combined text, music and moving images that fearlessly and effectively address a major problem in the world and Norway. Leve hits hard, straight from the inside that challenges us to stop, wake up, feel and feel for breath. The direct, emotional and vulnerable become part of the achievement of this powerful salve."
The jury for the EDVARD Prize 2020 has consisted of Peter Edwards (Norwegian Composers' Association), Kristin Norderval (Norwegian Composers' Association), Torgny Amdam (NOPA), Samsaya Sharma (NOPA), Sten Ove Toft (Independent), Ole Børud (Independent), Thomas Wettergren (Music Publishers) and jury chair Stine Lieng (Music Publishers).