November 9, 2009 12:36

Tinariwen beat Kings Of Leon, Bob Dylan to Uncut Music Award

Mali band awarded second annual prize

Photo: PA Photos

Tinariwen have beaten off competition from acts including Kings Of Leon, Bob Dylan and Grizzly Bear to be crowned the winners of this year's Uncut Music Award.

The Mali band have claimed the prize, in its second year, for their fourth album, 'Imidiwan: Companions'.

The winners of the award was decided by a judging panel including Uncut editor Allan Jones, Billy Bragg and Robin Pecknold of last year's winners Fleet Foxes. It was given to the artists who had, in the judges eyes, made the best album released in the past year.

Ibrahim Ag Alhabib of Tinariwen said: "This makes us really, really happy, all of us and I'm glad that this important magazine should recognise our music. It gives us the strength to carry on working and spreading the message about the peace of our desert home, and I'm glad that our music can cross the frontiers and talk to people around the world. Thanks very, very much."

The shortlist for the Uncut Music Award 2009 was:

Tinariwen – 'Imidiwan: Companions'
Animal Collective – 'Merriweather Post Pavilion'
Bob Dylan – 'Together Through Life'
Dirty Projectors – 'Bitte Orca'
Grizzly Bear – 'Veckatimest'
Kings Of Leon – 'Only By The Night'
The Low Anthem – 'Oh My God Charlie Darwin'
Tinariwen – 'Imidiwan: Companions'
Wilco – 'Wilco (The Album)'