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The West African singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo was born in Oudah, Dahomey (now known as Benin) in 1960. She grew up listening to traditional Beninese music as well as modern day artists such as James Brown, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix and Santana. Political unrest in her native country forced her to relocate to Paris where she enrolled at Le Centre d'Informations Musicales, one of the city's most reputable jazz conservatories. Kidjo funded her own way through school working various jobs as well as performing as a backing singer in the evenings. She first came to prominence as the lead singer of the jazz rock band Pili Pili before being discovered by Island's Chris Blackwell who signed her in 1991. She went on to become one of the best known and most recognisable artists to emerge from Africa in the past 30 years and has recorded a string of successful albums which have garnered numerous industry awards including three Grammys in the category of Best Contemporary World Music Album.Artist biography compiled by BDS/West 10. All rights reserved
