Björn Afzelius

Björn Svante Afzelius (27 January 1947 – 16 February 1999) was a Swedish singer-songwriter and guitar player.

In 1970, Afzelius formed the progg group Hoola Bandoola Band together with Mikael Wiehe.

Wiehe and Afzelius became very close friends and worked together long after Hoola Bandoola had dissolved in 1975.

Some of his most popular songs are "Ikaros", "Tusen bitar" (Thousand pieces – which was originally recorded by Danish Anne Linnet as "Tusind Stykker"), "Sång till friheten" (Song for Freedom – which was originally recorded by Cuban Silvio Rodríguez as "El Día Feliz Que Está Llegando"), "Kungens man" (The king's man), "Tankar i Havanna" (Thoughts in Havanna) and "Till min kära" (For my dear).

The foundation has in the past sponsored a prize known as the Freemuse Award, which recognises an individual or organisation that "has worked for freedom of musical expression in a remarkable way".

Björn Afzelius grave at Västra kyrkogården in Gothenburg.