Artist Profile - Angélique Kidjo
Internationally Recognized Singer, Composer, and Humanitarian
Aug 23, 2009
It's no secret that most styles of music can be traced to Africa. The majority of rhythms and melodic lines found today in everything from classical music to pop, rap, and rock have roots in the native music of countries like Benin, Zimbabwe, and Ghana.
Four-time Grammy nominee and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angelique Kidjo's impressive discography combines modern hip hop with the ancient sounds of her native Benin, along with other influences from Brazil and the Caribbean, among others, making her a true world music artist.
The Life of Angélique Kidjo
Born in the village of Cotonou, Benin, Kidjo had a deep appreciation for music even as a child. She began performing at age six, with influences ranging from Afropop and jazz to Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix. She recorded her first album here before moving to Paris, France.
While attending CIM in Paris to study jazz, Kidjo began singing for a band called Pili Pili, and after few years rose to fame as one of France's favorite singers. She currently resides in New York, and her album Djin Djin won the Best Contemporary World Music Album Grammy in 2007.
Kidjo's Discography Encompasses a World of Music
As a prolific musician fluent in several languages, with a true appreciation and understanding of the music of so many cultures, Kidjo's albums encompass everything from the samba of Bahia to touches of merengue, calypso, and ska.
Dozens of international artists from all genres have appeared on Kidjo's albums. Logozo, which is often credited as the album that brought Kidjo onto the world stage, features saxophonist Branford Marsalis. Several musicians from Benin can be heard on Fifa on various percussion instruments, the flute, back-up vocals, and even the berimbau.
Branford Marsalis makes a second appearance on Oremi, along with Bashiri Johnson, Kelly Price, and Cassandra Wilson. Black Ivory Soul, a tribute to the Afro-Brazilian music of Salvador, Brazil, features Gilberto Gil, Daniela Mercury, and Dave Matthews, as well as songwriting collaborations with Carlinhos Brown and Vinicius Cantuaria.
Kidjo's latest album, Grammy award winning Djin Djin, showcases many well-known artists, including Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, Joss Stone, Peter Gabriel, Ziggy Marley, Alicia Keys, Amadou and Mariam, and Branford Marsalis.
Kidjo's Humanitarian Work with UNICEF and the Batonga Foundation
It wasn't long before Kidjo's passionate lyrics caught the attention of humanitarians around the world. In July of 2002, Kidjo was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Amassador, with a focus on education for the female population of Africa. Kidjo has traveled extensively and delivered countless speeches on the issues children and women face in her native land.
This passion led Kidjo to launch the Batonga Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting and providing education to girls in Africa through scholarships, building schools, creating mentor programs, and giving much needed school supplies.
Kidjo in the World Music Scene Today
Kidjo is more active today than ever, embarking on world tours and increasing awareness of the educational situation in Africa. Through her music and actions as a Goodwill Ambassador, Kidjo is truly a world artist. For more information on Angélique Kidjo, please visit her website.
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