Michael Kiwanuka announced as 2020 Mercury Prize winner

24 September 2020, 19:38 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Michael Kiwanuka)

Michael Kiwanuka has been announced as the winner of this year's Mercury Prize award for his third album KIWANUKA.

Kiwanuka was announced as the winner of the 2020 Mercury Prize this evening (24 September) by Annie Mac on BBC's The One Show.

The musician said of his win, "I don’t even know what to say - I’m speechless. This is amazing…I don’t even have any words. This is ridiculous, it’s crazy! I’m so happy. Third time’s a charm. It’s blown my mind. I’m over the moon, I'm so excited - this is for art, for music, for albums. This is the only thing I've ever wanted to do so to win a Mercury is a dream come true. I’m so happy. Music and art means so much to me and this is an award that celebrates that so I’m over the moon."

And the winner of the #HyundaiMercuryPrize 2020 is... @michaelkiwanuka‘s #KIWANUKA pic.twitter.com/Ofszy90JYc
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) September 24, 2020

He was awarded the Mercury Prize for his third album KIWANUKA. Best Fit gave the album top marks in a review: "Everything here feels like it exists as one unified, harmonious body, like the very current of Kiwanuka’s identity has come alive, flowing like a river containing multitudes; at times it babbles, at others it gushes, it’s choppy and serene, and it washes over you with a warm sense of purpose. Finding your identity and coming to grips with who you are, and not just accepting it but championing it, is what Kiwanuka embodies. This is an exceptionally compelling, absorbing, rich, and genuinely human piece of work."