It is pretty hard to over-estimate the impact K’Naan has had on the music industry over the last several months.  On Saturday he was honoured as Canada’s Artist Of The Year at the Juno Awards gala, beating out the likes of Michael Buble, Diana Krall, Jann Arden and Johnny Reid.  Here is what he had to say upon receiving the honour:

“I came here to Canada when I was 15-years-old from Somalia and I didn’t know what I was going to do to deal with my emotions and my past and my life. Writing songs was just what I did to try and survive my own internal issues.”

He thanked Canada for “[giving] me a home” and his mother, “because when I was depressed and supposed to sleep she would let me stay up til 5AM and write songs.”

source

Catch the rest of the winners and Juno performances tonight at 8 pm ET on CTV.

Previously: LIVE PERFORMANCE: K’naan, Nas & Damian Marley perform “As We Enter” | VIDEO: Keane Ft. K’naan – “Stop For A Minute”

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• NEWS: Mo’Nique Wins Oscar!
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