Michael Kiwanuka has received the 2020 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year for his third studio release, Kiwanuka (Interscope). It was Kiwanuka's third nomination and first win.
Dua Lipa and Stormzy were among the dozen nominees.
Judges said of the album that it “is not only a complete work, but also one that is borne of the courage of its creator to build his own world and invite us in. Warm, rich, hugely accomplished and belonging to no one genre but its own, Kiwanuka is a masterpiece."
Kiwanuka said of the win: "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."
