The Sami Melodifestivalen was traditionally decided during the Easter Festival in Guovdageaidnu/Kautokeino.
Nils Ove Kuorak, 29, from Gällivare jockeyed his cousin and his dog. He describes the cousin as a diligent reindeer keeper. And after the win was announced, he was tight-lipped.
Sami Grand Prix
“Norway better than Sweden in promoting Sami music”
– It’s funny that people liked the joke and the performance, he said at the same time as the presenter noted that he was shaking.
“Must have champagne”
ByCecilia, 31, was also tight-lipped. She was visibly taken by the win.
– I have to get champagne, she says shortly after the win and could hardly get more words out before she went out on stage to sing the song a second time.
Bycecilia’s real name is Cecilia Dyrøy and comes from Frøya in Trøndelag. She had never written a song in Southern Sami before until she wrote this one. She has previously said that she sees the competition as a way for herself to start taking back her language.
As in previous years, the winners receive both a trophy and a cash prize. The winners receive NOK 20,000 each.