Angélique Kidjo

Angélique Kidjo (born Ouidah, July 14, 1960) has established herself as one of Africa's most popular international singers. Embracing eclectic styles, from Afrobeat to soul and reggae, and surrounding herself with a host of international musicians, she scored major hits with "Batonga" and "Sénié " (from Logozo, 1991), "Agolo" and "Adouma" (from the following album Aye, recorded in Prince's Paisley Park studios in 1994). The following year, accompanied by her husband Jean Hébrail, she travelled around Benin to record traditional rhythms for the album Fifa, which means "peace" in Fon and features a collaboration with guitarist Carlos Santana on the song "Naïma" . In 2002, to quench her thirst for musical discovery, she headed for Brazil, where she recorded Black Ivory Soul. In 2010, she released Oyo, an album dedicated to the songs of her childhood. Four years later, she surrounded herself with guests such as Dr. John and Asa, for the album Eve, a tribute to African women based on traditional village choir singing. In a completely different register, after the album Sings (2015), recorded with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, she tackles the Talking Heads repertoire in Remain in Light (2018), her own version of the New York band's cult album. This is followed in 2019 by Celia, a tribute to Cuban singer Celia Cruz, and in 2021 by Mother Nature , recorded during the confinement following the Covid-19 epidemic. This has not prevented the album from benefiting from numerous collaborations, with contributions from -M-, Burna Boy, Salif Keita, Mr Eazi and Zeynab, among others. After collaborating with trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf on the album Queen of Sheba (2022), Angélique Kidjo welcomed a host of guests on Hope! (2026), featuring contributions from Pharrell Williams and Quavo, Nile Rodgers and Iza, Ayra Starr, PJ Morton, Dadju, Diamond Platnumz, Charlie Wilson, Davido, Sheila Maurice-Grey, The Cavemen, The Soweto Gospel Choir, Fally Ipupa and Florent Pagny.