Mustafa’s 2nd Prism Prize
David Friend, Canadian Press – June 25, 2024 / 7:01 a.m. | History: 494066
Photo: The Canadian Press
Toronto musician Mustafa won this year’s Prism Prize for Canadian Music Video of the Year for “Name of God.” The award comes with a cash prize of $20,000. Mustafa will perform at the Juno Awards in Toronto on Sunday, May 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Mustafa Ahmed makes history as the first artist to win the Prism Prize twice.
The Sudanese-Canadian musician and director, who performs simply under the pseudonym Mustafa, received this year’s award for his self-directed music video for the song “Name of God”.
The clip features several striking images, including the Toronto-based artist dancing with friends in his living room and riding on the back of a motorcycle emblazoned with the Sudanese flag.
“Name of God” was selected by a jury of more than 120 professionals from the music and visual arts industries.
They considered a shortlist of ten Canadian music videos, including “Blame Brett” by The Beaches, “Demons” by Allison Russell and “I’m Good” by last year’s winner Snotty Nose Rez Kids.
Ahmed will receive $20,000 as part of the award. He previously won the Prism Prize in 2022 for his very personal, self-shot music video “Ali.”
Among the other winners, this year’s People’s Choice Award of $5,000 went to Toronto-based Palestinian-Canadian artist Nemahsis, who shared the prize with Toronto-based directors Norman Wong and New York-based Amy Gardner for their music video “I Wanna Be Your Right Hand.”
Toronto hip-hop artist Tobi received the $2,500 Willie Dunn Award, which is given to a pioneer of the Canadian music scene.
The artist, whose real name is Oluwatobi Ajibolade, can select an emerging Canadian artist to receive an additional $2,500. He chose Nigerian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist Niyi Adeogun.
Launched in 2013, the Prism Prize is a division of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, which also produces the Canadian Screen Awards.
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