After criticism surrounding the award’s diversity a year ago, the judging panel overlooked the huge bookies favourite – David Bowie’s ‘Blackstar’ – in favour of United Kingdom grime artist and producer Skepta; a choice which has been widely welcomed. The artist will also receive £25,000, which he promised to use to help the disadvantaged.
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“I came back”, he said.
This was reduced to a final six during the ceremony which included Bowie, Radiohead, The 1975, Kiwanuka, Mvula and eventual victor Skepta.
Picking up the award, the grime star, from Tottenham in north London, looked visibly shocked.
The Mercury Prize was established in 1992.
Skepta paid tribute to the Starman and Amy Winehouse before launching into a performance of his hit track Shutdown, saying: “Rest in peace David Bowie and rest in peace Amy Winehouse”.
During the ceremony, Dexter star Michael C Hall performed a moving rendition of Bowie’s Lazarus, off his final album.
In his early career, Bowie penned the lyrics to Life on Mars while sitting on the steps of a bandstand in Croydon Road recreation ground in Beckenham.
It prompted him to return to the music he loved, reaching out directly to fans via social media.
Accepting the Mercury Prize, he said: “I was like’ let’s do it for ourselves'”.
“We could have never imagined we’d be here nominated amongst some of the people that are nominated today”. “We travelled the world, no record label, nothing”.
Skepta has won the 2016 Mercury Prize for his album Konnichiwa. He added in reference to his fellow Mercury Prize nominee Kano: “Kano did this for us and the love is there”.
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Skepta – real name Joseph Junior Adenuga – invited his parents on stage for his acceptance speech, and his mother couldn’t contain her excitement.
