Niko-Mihkal Valkeapää (born 30 December 1968 in Enontekiö, Finland) is a Sami musician, joiker (Sami folk singer), teacher, actor and politician.

Niko Valkeapää
Valkeapää performing in Márkomeannu, Norway on 28 July 2008.
Valkeapää performing in Márkomeannu, Norway on 28 July 2008.
Background information
Born (1968-12-30) 30 December 1968 (age 55)
Enontekiö, Finland
OriginSami
GenresYoik, Traditional, Folk music
Occupation(s)Teacher, musician, writer, artist, politician and actor.
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsDuippidit
Websitewww.nikovalkeapaa.no

Biography edit

 
Niko Valkeapää at Riddu Riđđu in 2009.

He has been described as "one of Sami music's foremost performers."[1] Valkeapää has been living in Kautokeino, 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, which he has done much work on, among others Georg Buljo.

Awards edit

In 2005, Valkeapää received the Áillohaš Music Award, a Sámi music award conferred by the municipality of Kautokeino and the Kautokeino Sámi Association to honor the significant contributions the recipient or recipients has made to the diverse world of Sámi music.[3][4]

Discography edit

  • 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 edit

  • Beginner's Guide to Scandinavia, 3CD-set, Nascente 2011

References edit

  1. ^ mic.no, Niko Valkeapää, 10 May 2004, retrieved 11 January 2009
  2. ^ mic.no, A Search for Identity, 6 February 2005, retrieved 11 January 2009
  3. ^ Skancke-Knutsen, Arvid (March 28, 2011). "Mari Boine jubilerer" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Folkorg.no. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Hætta, Wenche Marie. "Hvem-Hva-Når om Sámi Grand Prix" (in Norwegian Bokmål). NRK. Retrieved August 2, 2021.

External links edit

Awards
Preceded by Recipient of the Open class Spellemannprisen
2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Recipient of the Áillohaš Music Award
2005
Succeeded by