Ezra Collective have won the 2023 Mercury Prize with their second studio album Where I'm Meant To Be.
Ezra Collective praised youth organisations that foster young talent as they collected the 2023 Mercury Prize for their second studio album, Where I'm Meant To Be.
The jazz quintet were among a dozen acts, including Irish band Lankum, in the running for the prestigious award.
The announcement was made by DJ Jamz Supernova during the award ceremony, which recognises the best British or Irish album of the year, at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, west London, on Thursday.
The winner of the 2023 Mercury Prize with @FreeNow_UK is... @EzraCollective - 'Where I'm Meant To Be' 🏆✨ #MercuryPrize pic.twitter.com/YMYQf9o71v
— Mercury Prize (@MercuryPrize) September 7, 2023
Accepting the prize on stage, bandleader Femi Koleoso thanked God, their team, and their family who have supported them through the years.
He said: "Most importantly Ezra Collective represents something really special because we met in a youth club."
Their album was described by judge Jamz Supernova as an "uplifting and timely record, the very best of where we are now in 2023".
