Pierre Kwenders has won the 2022 Polaris Music Prize for his album 鈥淛os茅 Louis and the Paradox Of Love.鈥�

The Congolese-Canadian鈥檚 third album, which blends the dancefloor energy of Congolese rumba, R&B and pop, was selected by an 11-member grand jury as best Canadian album of the year based on its artistic merit.

At the ceremony in Toronto on Monday night, Kwenders beat nine other contenders for the $50,000 prize, including rapper Shad, Vancouver rock band Destroyer, Quebec pop provocateur Hubert Lenoir and Rosaireville, N.B.-raised Lisa LeBlanc.

Kwenders accepted the honour after dropping to his knees on the stage, which he later explained was out of nervousness.

鈥淭his means a lot to me, and a lot of people that have been around me, and helped me to be the man that I am today,鈥� he said.

He went on to explain that over the past couple of months he鈥檚 lost several people close to him, including cousins and most recently his godfather.

鈥淚 felt a little bit like (in) life something was going wrong,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut then I remembered the reason why I do what I do鈥� to tell the story of the people that inspired me.鈥�

Kwenders was born Jos茅 Louis Modabi, in Kinshasa, Congo, and immigrated to Canada in 2001. His stage name is drawn from his late grandfather, a local businessman and community leader.

鈥淛os茅 Louis and the Paradox Of Love鈥� was recorded over four years and Kwenders describes it as a reflection on romantic love, family and personal growth sung in English, French, Lingala, Tshiluba, and Kikongo. It features musical collaborators King Britt, Michael Brun and Arcade Fire鈥榮 Win Butler and R茅gine Chassagne.

In a press conference after his win, he considered how he鈥檇 spend the $50,000 prize.

鈥淭he first thing I鈥檓 doing with the money is giving my mom the per cent that she deserves,鈥� he said.

鈥�(She鈥檚) a single mom, she made a lot of sacrifices. She didn鈥檛 believe that I could do it in music but still trusted that I got the guts to do it. She鈥檚 still out there supporting me.鈥�

鈥淭en or 20 per cent goes first to my mom. And then the rest? We鈥檒l figure it out,鈥� he added.

Kwenders has been celebrated by the Polaris jury in the past. He previously landed a spot on the 2018 shortlist with his album 鈥淢akanda at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time.鈥�

The Polaris Music Prize is considered one of the country鈥檚 most prestigious music awards with past winners that include Haviah Mighty, Jeremy Dutcher and Kaytranada.

Attended by Canadian talent and industry players, the evening proved to be a lengthy celebration that stretched on for more than four hours as each nominee took the stage to perform, many of them playing at least two of their songs.

Last year鈥檚 winner Cadence Weapon opened the show with a performance of 鈥淥n Me鈥� and 鈥淪enna,鈥� two tracks from his Polaris-winning album 鈥淧arallel World.鈥�

He was followed by this year鈥檚 nominees, including Toronto singer-songwriter Charlotte Day Wilson and Haisla Nation hip-hop act Snotty Nose Rez Kids.

Kwenders said being among the multi-genre 鈥渕elting pot鈥� of his fellow nominees felt right and was 鈥渁 good representation of Canada.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 like to put myself into any kind of boxes,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut finding myself in this box, I kind of feel like it鈥檚 the right box.鈥�

鈥擠avid Friend, The Canadian Press