Niko Valkeapää
Finnish Sami musician (born 1968)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Niko-Mihkal Valkeapää (born 30 December 1968) is a Finnish Sami musician, joiker (Sami folk singer), teacher, actor and politician.
Niko Valkeapää | |
|---|---|
Valkeapää performing in Márkomeannu, Norway, on 28 July 2008. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Niko-Mihkal Valkeapää 30 December 1968 |
| Origin | Sami |
| Genres | Yoik, traditional, folk music |
| Occupations | Teacher, musician, writer, artist, politician and actor |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Label | Duippidit |
| Website | www |
Biography
Born in Enontekiö, Finland, he has been described as "one of Sami music's foremost performers."[1] Valkeapää has been living in Kautokeino Municipality, Norway since 1990.[2] He is godson of Sami artist and joiker Nils-Aslak Valkeapää.
He won the Sámi Grand Prix (1994, 1995), received the Spellemann award in 2003 (open class) with his debut album, and the Liet Ynternasjonaal award, the international music prize for minority music. He has toured across Norway, including the Nattjazz festival in Bergen, and the Northern Norway music festival Riddu Riđđu in Manndalen, Norway. His work has been considered part of the "third wave" of modern Sami music culture.
Awards
In 2005, Valkeapää received the Áillohaš Music Award, a Sámi music award conferred by Kautokeino Municipality and the Kautokeino Sámi Association to honor the recipient's significant contributions to the diverse world of Sámi music.[3][4]
Discography
- Niko Valkeapää, Duippidit, 2003
- Sierra, Duippidit, 2004
- Birrat birra, Duippidit, 2008
- Gusto, Duippidit, 2012
- ÄÄ, Duippidit, 2012
- Ráfi - Tranquility, Duippidit, 2015
- Gáldu - Source, Duippidit, 2019
Also appears on
- Beginner's Guide to Scandinavia, 3CD-set, Nascente 2011
