Inari Sámi rapper Amoc and Northern Sámi rapper Áilu Valle have jointly won the 2026 Áillohaš Music Award, the first instance in which multiple individual artists have won the award within the same year.

About The Winners

Amoc is a rapper from Inari who performs in the severely endangered Inari Sámi language, which has around 400 native speakers. He released his first album in 2007, and is known for his dark lyrics, in a genre he calls horror-rap.

Áílu Valle is a rapper and hip-hop artist who performs in Northern Sámi, he has released three albums, Dušši dušše duššat, 7, and Viidon sieddit. He recently released the single “Sámirai” under the Sámi label Fierran Records.

Both artists performed together as an interval act during Sámi Grand Prix, performing “Suola ja nuáidi” – a rap interpretation of the oldest known written joik text, dating back to 1820.

What is the Áillohaš Music Award?

The Áillohaš Music Award is an award given out annually in conjunction with Sámi Grand Prix and the Sámi Easter Festival to honour those who have made a great contribution to Sámi music. The prize is named for the Sámi musician and writer Áillohaš, and was first awarded to honour his 50th birthday. The winner of the award receives 40,000NOK, crafts made by artist Nils-Johan Labba, and a two week stay each at Lássagámmi, where Áillohaš lived before his passing in 2001.

The prize is awarded by the Kautokeino Municipality and Kautokeino Sámi Association, and previous winners of the award include Mari Boine, who won the inaugural prize, Jon Henrik Fjällgren and Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen.

Photo Credit: Ulrik Haug / NRK