Rusangano Family Make History and Win RTÉ Choice Music Prize

Rusangano Family, a three-piece rap group from Limerick and Clare, recently made history to become the first group of predominantly black artists to win the RTÉ Choice Music Prize (previously known as the Meteor Choice Award). The historic win was announced during the star-studded awards show in Vicar Street on March 9th. The show, hosted by Eoghan McDermott, saw stunning performances from nine of the ten nominated acts for the prestigious Album of The Year award (James Vincent McMorrow was unable to attend due to touring). Highlights of the show included performances from The Divine Comedy, Bantum and We Cut Corners. Rusangano Family, however, gave one of the most crowd-pleasing performances of the evening, urging everyone out of their seats and asking them to question what it means to be Irish. The band, as well as their family, friends and fans, were later shocked and visibly stunned to discover that their album, “Let The Dead Bury The Dead”, had been selected as the winner. In their very emotional acceptance speech, the band (made up of God Knows, MuRli and MynameisjOhn) said that the album was written through pain and struggle but that it was all worth it in the end. This victory is being viewed as an important landmark in Irish Hip-Hop’s attempt to be taken seriously and will be the beginning of a wave of Irish rap and R&B acts. The award for Irish Song of The Year was also awarded on the night, with Picture This coming out on top with their song ‘Take My Hand’. The band were unable to accept the award in person, as they are currently in Nashville recording their debut album.