TONO's Formidlerpris 2024 to Riddu Riđđu Festivála

During the opening of this year's Riddu Riđđu Festivála, we were awarded TONO's Formidlerpris 2024. Formidlerprisen is an award given by TONO (the Norwegian composer rights management organization) which is awarded annually to an "exceptional presenter of music". 

On stage, the festival manager Sajje Solbakk was surprised by our chairman Bente Ovedie Skogvang and TONO's Sten Ove Toft with the presentation of the award. Then the jury's reasoning was also read out:

«It is time to see what is happening in Gáivuotna, or Kåfjord municipality in Nord-Troms.

In the founding year 1991, few would have thought that this place would become a center of power for the promoting and presenting indigenous music traditions in general and Sami music in particular. It has been, 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 hard-working calm, the festival has built up, and today it annually attracts approximately 7,000 guests from near and far.

Riddu Riđđu has distinguished itself as an international spearhead within its segment and that is why the jury is happy and proud to appoint the festival as the recipient of TONO's Formidlerpris 2024.»

We are grateful to receive this award and we appreciate that our work as a Sea Sami festival and one of the world's largest stages for indigenous art is being recognised.

Many thanks to TONO for the award, and thanks to our partners, volunteers and the public who make this possible!