Mustafa wins the 2024 Prism Prize for outstanding video
The Sudanese Canadian artist is the 1st to win the prize twice
The 2024 Prism Prize winners were just announced, and artist and director Mustafa won for his "Name of God" music video, taking home $20,000 — making him the first artist to win the prize twice in its 12-year history.
Mustafa, who also won the prize in 2022 for "Ali," released "Name of God" in October 2023 as the first solo single since releasing his Juno-winning and Polaris Prize-shortlisted album, When Smoke Rises. The song examines the Sudanese Canadian folk singer's relationship with Islam, and the loss of his brother earlier in 2023. He directed the video filled with evocative imagery, and this win comes shortly after he released another personal song and video, "Gaza Is Calling," earlier this month.
Toronto artist Nemahsis and directors Norman Wong and Amy Gardner took home the $2,500 Audience Award for Nemahsis's video "i wanna be your right hand," while Montreal's Ethan Tobman won the Special Achievement Award, which recognizes "an exceptional contribution to music video art on the world stage," according to the press release. Tobman's most recent work includes creative directing Taylor Swift's Eras tour, and Allison Russell's "Demons" video.
Toronto rapper Tobi won the Willie Dunn Award, which asks him to choose an emerging Canadian creative who will receive an additional $2,500. He selected visual artist Niyi Adeogun. Toronto band shy kids took home the Hi-Fidelity Award, which is given to an artist who has used video "to represent their work in a consistently creative and innovative way."