Gilberto Gil and Every Kind of Award - Part 2

In addition to winning several Grammys, the artist, politician, and activist has been honored in various cities and countries around the world, and has even been recognized for his fight against hunger.

By Instituto Gilberto Gil

Text: Ricardo Schott, writer, journalist and musical researcher

Envelope com material sobre o Polar Music Prize 2005, no qual Gilberto Gil foi vencedor (2005)Instituto Gilberto Gil

Polar Music Prize

In 2005, Gil traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, to receive the Polar Music Prize from King Carl Gustav XVI. The Royal Swedish Academy of Music, which awards the prize, described Gil as "a unique composer powered by immense talent and curiosity."

Gilberto Gil, Håkan Hellström e Simone Morena na cerimônia de entrega do prêmio Polar Music Prize 2005 (2004-05-23)Instituto Gilberto Gil

The prize had been set up by Stig Anderson, manager of the pop group ABBA and founder of the Polar Music record label. The award is widely considered to be the Nobel Prize for popular music.

Convite para o Polar Music Prize enviado a Maria Gil ConviteInstituto Gilberto Gil

Gil was awarded the accolade for his "creative engagement in bringing to the world the heart and soul of the rich music of Brazil," as well as for his "immense talent and curiosity," and "firm cultural conviction.”

Gilberto Gil na cerimônia de entrega do prêmio Polar Music Prize 2005 (2004-05-23)Instituto Gilberto Gil

Ministério das Relações Exteriores condecora o Ministro Gilberto Gil com a Grã - Cruz da Ordem do Rio Branco Ministério das Relações Exteriores condecora o Ministro Gilberto Gil com a Grã - Cruz da Ordem do Rio Branco (9/1/2005)Instituto Gilberto Gil

Many More Awards

Gilberto Gil's political activism and the issues he raised in his songs led to him receiving awards that did not really have anything to do with his work as an artist. In some cases, they went far beyond music.

 In 1981, São Paulo's City Council (Câmara Municipal) awarded him the city's highest award, the Anchieta Medal and Gratitude Diploma of the City of São Paulo. In 1990, he was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture. 

In 1995, he was also named Commander of the Order of Rio Branco in Brasília, by federal decree.

Certificado de Gilberto Gil por ter sido agraciado com a Grã - Cruz da Ordem do Mérito de Brasília Certificado de Gilberto Gil por ter sido agraciado com a Grã - Cruz da Ordem do Mérito de Brasília (6/27/2005)Instituto Gilberto Gil

In 1997, he was awarded the National Order of Merit in Paris. In 2003, as Minister of Culture, he was knighted in the Order of Prince Henry in Portugal; and was named Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by France.

Título de Grand Officer De La Legion D'Honneur, concedido pelo Presidente da República da França ao Ministro Gilberto GilInstituto Gilberto Gil

In 2005, President Jacques Chirac appointed him a Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur (Grand Officer of the Honor Legion), the most important honor conceded by the French government.

Founded in 1802, the Order has graced few other Brazilian figures; the emperor Dom Pedro II, the former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso and the sociologist Giberto Freyre are among them.

Ministro da Cultura Gilberto Gil em homenagem da Liga da Defesa Nacional (2006-04-20)Instituto Gilberto Gil

In 2006, the Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil was honored by the League of National Defense, which in celebration of its 90th anniversary, promoted the solemnity of awarding the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira medal.

Gilberto Gil na Tulane University (2006)Instituto Gilberto Gil

That same year, he received the José de Alencar medal in Fortaleza (in the NE region of Brazil); won a Petrobrás award for his participation in cultural production in Brazil; and received two Honorary Doctorate titles:

Gilberto Gil na Tulane University (2006)Instituto Gilberto Gil

For the University of Tulane, in New Orleans, Luisiana, and for the Universidade de Aveiro, in Portugal.

Gilberto Gil recebe o título de Doutor Honoris Causa pela Universidade de Tulane (2006)Instituto Gilberto Gil

Show de Gilberto Gil contra a fome no mundo, como Embaixador da Boa Vontade da FAO (2012-07-22)Instituto Gilberto Gil

A World Without Hunger

One of the stranger honors Gil has received was being made a Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The singer received the honor in Rome, Italy, in 2001.

Show de Gilberto Gil contra a fome no mundo, como Embaixador da Boa Vontade da FAO (2012-07-22)Instituto Gilberto Gil

The FAO was established in 1945 to improve nutrition, achieve food security, and ensure that people have access to the food they need to live a healthy life.

Show de Gilberto Gil contra a fome no mundo, como Embaixador da Boa Vontade da FAO (2012-07-22)Instituto Gilberto Gil

In 2004, when he was a minister in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government, Gil mentioned the organization in a text he wrote:

Show do Embaixador da Boa Vontade da FAO, Gilberto Gil, contra a fome (2012-07-22)Instituto Gilberto Gil

“The FAO's fight for a world without hunger for current and future generations is also my fight. It is a fight I have been engaged in for a long time, like many other Brazilians, like many other artists around the world...

Show de Gilberto Gil contra a fome no mundo, como Embaixador da Boa Vontade da FAO (2012-07-22)Instituto Gilberto Gil

"... men and women, citizens of this planet Earth, who refuse to accept that the right to a plate of food is something for the privileged few," he wrote. "At this time, Brazil needs to set an example to the world of citizenship...

Ministro da Cultura Gilberto Gil com o cacique Paulo Miriecuréu, políticos, e representantes indígenas, da Unesco (Organização das Nações Unidas para a Educação, a Ciência e a Cultura), Unicef (Fundo das Nações Unidas para a Infância) e FAO (Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e a Agricultura) durante visita ao projeto de uma nova aldeia para os índios Bororo (2004-04-15)Instituto Gilberto Gil

solidarity, and love. Ending hunger in Brazil is not only a national commitment. It is also our moral duty towards our planet." 

He also recalled the FAO asking him to help spread its message in Brazil.

Go back to Part 1.

Credits: Story

Research and writing: Ricardo Schott (colaborou Carla Peixoto)
Structure: Isabela Marinho


General credits

Editing and curation: Chris Fuscaldo / Garota FM 
Research - music: Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Laura Zandonadi and Ricardo Schott 
Research - Ministry of Culture: Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves and Chris Fuscaldo 
Subtitles: Anna Durão, Carla Peixoto, Ceci Alves, Chris Fuscaldo, Daniel Malafaia, Fernanda Pimentel, Gilberto Porcidonio, Kamille Viola, Laura Zandonadi, Lucas Vieira, Luciana Azevedo, Patrícia Sá Rêgo, Pedro Felitte, Ricardo Schott, Roni Filgueiras e Tito Guedes 
Data editing: Isabela Marinho and Marco Konopacki
Gege Produções Review: Cristina Doria
Acknowledgements: Gege Produções, Gilberto Gil, Flora Gil, Gilda Mattoso, Fafá Giordano, Maria Gil, Meny Lopes, Nelci Frangipani, Cristina Doria, Daniella Bartolini e todos os autores das fotos e personagens da história
All media: Instituto Gilberto Gil 
*Every effort has been made to credit the images, audios and videos and correctly tell the story about the episodes narrated in the exhibitions. If you find errors and/or omissions, please contact us by email atendimentogil@gege.com.br

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
Gilberto Gil
A musical journey into the sound of Brazilian icon, Gilberto Gil
View theme
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites