"Riddu Riđđu has distinguished himself as an international spearhead within his segment," the jury wrote in its statement. The award was presented during the festival's official opening on July 11.
/ 11/07/2024 / Willy MartinsenPhoto: Ørjan Marakatt Bertelsen
TONO's Mediator Award was established in 2011 and is awarded annually by TONO to an exceptional music mediator. The award consists of a diploma designed by artist Magne Furuholmen. Previous recipients of the award include the Øya Festival, CEO of the record label ECM, Mannfred Eicher and the Jazznytt blog Now's the Time.
Jury leader Sten Ove Toft presented the award to festival director Sajje Solbakk. The award was a surprise for the festival director, as parts of the festival staff and TONO had planned the whole thing in secret in advance.
The jury's reasoning
"It is time to strike a blow for what is happening in Gáivuotna, or Kåfjord municipality in Nord-Troms.
When it was first established in 1991, few would have thought that this place would become a powerhouse for the promotion and dissemination of indigenous musical traditions in general and Sami music in particular. It has become so, thanks to the now 33-year-old Riddu Riđđu festival.
Riddu Riđđu began as a party, visibility, liberation and celebration of Sea Sami culture in the early 90s. With stoic and hardworking calm, the festival has built up, and today it attracts approximately 7000 guests annually from near and far.
Riddu Riđđu has distinguished itself as an international spearhead within its segment and that is why the jury is pleased and proud to appoint the festival as the recipient of TONO's Media Award 2024.
The jury
The jury for the TONO Mediator Award is TONO's EDVARD jury. It consists of six composers and lyricists, and two music publishers:
Sten Ove Toft (jury chairman)
Agnes Hvizdalek
Alexander Austheim
Andrew Smith
Jan Erik Mikalsen
Johanne Flottorp
Maria Stene Brendstrup
Thea Hjelmeland
More about TONO's Mediator Award:
https://www.tono.no/om-tono/baerekraft/priser-og-stipender/edvardprisen-tonos-formidlerpris/
Visit the festival's website:
For more information:
Willy Martinsen, Communications Director at TONO, mob 909 65,254, willy.martinsen (a) tono.no