In its first edition, Imaterial immediately wanted to distinguish and shed some light on those who, through their exemplary practice, hear tradition and know how to listen to much more than an echo of the past. Thus, the Imaterial Prize was created, with the aim of giving public gratitude to individuals who provide a valuable service to the dialogue between different cultures and to the uncompromising defence of human rights and equality between peoples. After Kepa Junkera, a Basque musician whose career is guided by a very personal vision of what it means to work from traditional sounds, the Imaterial Prize takes a bow to UK-based ethnomusicologist and producer Lucy Durán. Daughter of the Spanish composer Gustavo Durán, her fascination with African music soon led her to that continent, with the aim of learning and discovering music that, in the 1970s, was little known outside the region. Having directed her energies mainly towards Cuban and Malian music – especially the music of Malian women and the kora – Lucy Durán has produced more than 20 albums, by musicians such as Bassekou Kouyaté, Kasse Mady Diabaté or Trio Da Kali with Kronos Quartet. One of her most important recordings is the immediate classic New Ancient Strings, the duo of Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko. Her tireless mission to promote these songs led Durán to create the first courses in West African and Cuban music at SOAS University in London, to present programs on BBC Radio 3, and to also dedicate herself to making documentaries. Imaterial is now pleased to honor this inspiring and precious journey.

Prize - sculpture by PEDRO FAZENDA