Angélique Kidjo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Angélique Kidjo
Kidjo performing at the Gershwin Prize in 2023
Born	Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo (1960-07-14) July 14, 1960 (age 64) Ouidah, French Dahomey (now Benin)
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress
Spouse(s)	Jean Hébrail ​ (m. 1987)​
Musical career
Genres	Afropop Afrobeat reggae world music world fusion worldbeat jazz gospel Latin
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Island Mango PolyGram Columbia Razor & Tie 429
Associated acts	Manu Dibango Carlinhos Brown Vinicius Cantuária Henri Salvador Cassandra Wilson Alicia Keys Carlos Santana Ziggy Marley Gilberto Gil Daniela Mercury Anggun Dianne Reeves Lionel Loueke Steve Jordan Romero Lubambo Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Les Amazones d'Afrique Yemi Alade Burna Boy

Angélique Kidjo is a famous singer, songwriter, and actress from Benin and France. She is known for her amazing music that mixes different styles and her creative music videos. Angélique grew up in a family of performers; her dad was a musician, and her mom was a choreographer and theater director.

She has won five Grammy Awards, which are like the biggest awards in music! In 2023, she also received the Polar Music Prize, another very important music award. Time magazine once called her "Africa's premier diva," meaning she's one of the best singers from Africa. She even performed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in 2021. Time also put her on their list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Angélique Kidjo has worked with many famous artists like Bono, Alicia Keys, Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, and Sting. She can speak and sing in five languages: Fon, French, Yorùbá, Gen, and English. She even has her own special language for some of her songs!

Her Early Life and Music Journey

Angélique Kidjo was born in Ouidah, which was then called French Dahomey and is now part of Benin. Her dad was from the Fon people, and her mom was from the Yoruba people. She grew up listening to traditional African music, as well as artists like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Santana. When she was just six years old, she started performing with her mom's theater group. This helped her learn to love traditional music and dance from a young age.

She began singing in her school band, Les Sphinx. As a teenager, she became popular with her version of Miriam Makeba's song "Les Trois Z," which was played on the radio. Angélique recorded her first album, Pretty, with her brother Oscar. It included songs like "Ninive" and "Gbe Agossi." This album was so successful that she toured all over West Africa. However, because of political problems in Benin, she couldn't be an independent artist in her home country. So, in 1983, she moved to Paris.

Moving to Paris and First Steps

After leaving Benin due to political issues, Angélique moved to Paris in the 1980s. At first, she wanted to become a lawyer who helps people with their rights. But she ended up studying music instead! She worked different jobs to pay for her music school. At the CIM, a jazz school in Paris, she met Jean Hebrail, a musician and producer. They have written most of her music together and got married in 1987.

She started as a backup singer in local bands. In 1985, she became the lead singer of a jazz/rock band called Pili Pili. She recorded three albums with them. By the late 1980s, she was one of the most popular live performers in Paris. She then recorded her first solo album, Parakou. In 1991, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell discovered her and signed her to his label.

Amazing Albums and Collaborations

Angélique Kidjo has released many albums throughout her career, often working with other talented musicians.

Parakou: Her First Album

Her first international album, Parakou, came out in 1989. This album marked the start of her many collaborations with Jean Hébrail.

Logozo: A Big Hit

Her first album with Island Records was Logozo, released in 1991. It was recorded in Miami and Paris and featured famous musicians like Branford Marsalis. This album became number one on the Billboard World Albums chart. Music videos for "We We" and "Batonga" were released, and Angélique went on her first world tour. Logozo is even ranked as one of the greatest dance albums of all time by Vice magazine.

Ayé: Environmental Message

Released in 1994, the album Ayé was produced by David Z at Prince's Paisley Park Studios. It included the song "Agolo," which talks about protecting the environment. The music video for "Agolo" earned Angélique her first Grammy nomination! This album used traditional African vocal techniques and languages like Yoruba and Fon.

Fifa: Traveling for Music

For the 1996 album Fifa, Angélique and Jean Hebrail traveled all over Benin. They recorded traditional rhythms to use as the foundation for the songs. Carlos Santana played on the song "Naima," which Angélique wrote for her daughter. The song "Wombo Lombo" was a huge hit across Africa.

Exploring African Roots: The Trilogy

Starting in 1998, Angélique created a series of three albums: Oremi, Black Ivory Soul, and Oyaya!. These albums explored how African music influenced music in North and South America.

Oremi: African and American Mix

Oremi was recorded in New York and mixed African and African-American music styles. Artists like Cassandra Wilson and Branford Marsalis worked with her on this album. It even included a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child."

Black Ivory Soul: Afro-Brazilian Sounds

In 2000, Angélique went to Brazil to record the drum rhythms for Black Ivory Soul, which was inspired by Afro-Brazilian culture. She worked with Brazilian songwriters and musicians like Gilberto Gil.

Oyaya!: Latin and Caribbean Fusion

Released in 2004, Oyaya! blended Latin and Caribbean music with African guitar sounds. The famous French singer Henri Salvador joined her on the song "Le Monde Comme un Bébé."

Djin Djin: Grammy Winner

Angélique released Djin Djin in 2007. Many guest artists appeared on this album, including Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, and Peter Gabriel. The album's title, "Djin Djin," refers to the sound of a bell in Africa that signals the start of a new day. This album won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album!

Õÿö: A Tribute to Childhood

Õÿö, released in 2010, was a tribute to the music Angélique listened to when she was a child in Benin. It mixed traditional music, songs by Miriam Makeba, and classic soul music from the 1960s and 70s. Bono and John Legend sang on a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up." This album was nominated for a Grammy.

Spirit Rising: Live Performances

Spirit Rising (2012) is a live album from Angélique's PBS TV special. It features many of her songs performed live with special guests like Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend and Josh Groban.

Eve: Celebrating African Women

On January 28, 2014, Angélique released Eve, an album dedicated to the strength and beauty of women in Africa. She traveled to Kenya and Benin to record the harmonies and chants of traditional women's choirs. The album featured musicians like Dr. John and her mother, Yvonne. Eve became number 1 on the Billboard World Music chart and won a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album.

Sings: With an Orchestra

In 2015, Angélique released Sings, a collaboration with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. This album featured orchestral versions of her songs and two new ones. Critics praised how it combined classical music with jazz and African rhythms. This album also won a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album.

Remain in Light: A New Take

Released in 2018, Remain in Light was a special project where Angélique reimagined Talking Heads' famous 1980 album of the same name. That original album was influenced by West African music, so Angélique wanted to celebrate it with her own vocals, percussion, and lyrics in her home country's languages.

Celia: Honoring a Legend

Angélique's tribute to Cuban singer Celia Cruz was released in 2019. The album gave Celia Cruz's songs an Afrobeat feel. The Guardian newspaper called it "magnificent." Angélique won another Grammy Award for "Best World Music Album" for Celia in 2020.

Mother Nature: Young Collaborations

Her album Mother Nature came out in 2021. It features many collaborations with young African producers and singers like Yemi Alade and Burna Boy. The Independent newspaper said the album felt like a "grand homecoming: celebratory and inclusive."

Beyond Music: Her Books and Special Projects

Angélique Kidjo has also shared her story and worked on unique musical projects.

Her Memoir: Spirit Rising, My Life, My Music

Angélique wrote a book about her life called Spirit Rising, My Life, My Music, which was published in 2014. Famous people like Desmond Tutu and Alicia Keys wrote parts of the book. Bill Clinton said, "The only thing bigger than Angélique Kidjo's voice is her heart."

Collaboration with Philip Glass: IFÉ

In 2014, Angélique premiered IFÉ, a special musical piece she created with the famous composer Philip Glass. He wrote orchestral music based on three traditional Yoruba poems that Angélique sang. Philip Glass said they built "a bridge that no one has walked on before."

Making a Difference: Angélique's Advocacy

Angélique Kidjo is not just a singer; she's also a passionate activist who works to make the world a better place.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

Since 2002, Angélique has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. This means she works with UNICEF to help children around the world. She has traveled to many countries in Africa, including Benin, Senegal, and Ethiopia, to see how UNICEF helps kids.

The Batonga Foundation: Helping Girls Learn

Angélique founded The Batonga Foundation to help young women and girls in Benin get an education and learn important life skills. The foundation focuses on reaching girls who are often left out and giving them the tools they need to change their own lives and communities.

How Batonga Started

When Angélique was growing up, not many girls in Benin went to school. She created the word "Batonga" as a joyful way to say that girls do belong in the classroom. Later, this word became the name of her hit song and her non-profit organization.

In 2006, she started the Batonga Foundation to empower and educate girls in sub-Saharan Africa. The foundation has helped thousands of girls get an education through scholarships and support. They also provided access to clean water and toilets in schools and gave shoes to students.

Batonga's Impact and Partners

Since 2015, Batonga has focused on creating safe spaces and providing mentors for girls. They teach girls important life skills, how to manage money, and how to start small businesses. This helps girls become leaders in their communities. Batonga works with many important partners like Bloomberg Philanthropies, ExxonMobil, and USAID.

Special Performances Around the World

Angélique Kidjo has performed at many important events and concerts globally.

In 2018, she sang "Blewu" under the Arc De Triomphe in Paris. This was a special ceremony for 70 world leaders to honor African soldiers who died in World War I.

She has performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert multiple times, honoring people like Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter. She was part of the Live 8 concert, Eden Project in the UK and the Live Earth concert in South Africa.

Angélique has performed at famous venues like Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London. She sang at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert in South Africa and at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She also performed for the Dalai Lama and at the United Nations General Assembly.

In 2021, she sang Hans Zimmer's version of "Imagine" with John Legend and Keith Urban at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. She also performed at the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Her Life Outside Music

Angélique Kidjo is married to Jean Hébrail, the French musician and producer she met in Paris. They got married in 1987, and their daughter, Naima, was born in France in 1993.

Music She Has Released

Here are some of Angélique Kidjo's albums:

Music Videos and Soundtracks

Angélique Kidjo has released many music videos for her songs. Her music has also been featured in several movies and TV shows, including:

• Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
• Blood Diamond
• The Lion King 2
• Six Feet Under
• The Woman King

TV Shows She Has Appeared On

Angélique Kidjo has appeared on many TV shows, including:

• Later with Jools Holland
• Late Show with David Letterman
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
• Austin City Limits
• She has also been interviewed by famous journalists like David Frost and Christiane Amanpour.

Awards and Special Honors

Angélique Kidjo has received many awards and honors for her music and her work to help others.

• In 2010, the BBC Focus on Africa magazine named her one of Africa's 50 most iconic figures.
• The Guardian listed her as one of its Top 100 Women in art, film, music, and fashion.
• She is the first woman to be on Forbes magazine's list of "The 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa."
• National Public Radio (NPR) called her "Africa's greatest living diva."
• She has received honorary doctorates from important universities like Yale University and Berklee College of Music.
• She received the Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in 2015.
• She also received the Ambassador of Conscience Award from Amnesty International in 2016.
• Her awards include multiple Grammy Awards for Best World Music Album for her albums Djin Djin, Eve, Sings, Celia, and Mother Nature.
• In 2021, she received the Legion of Honor, which is the highest award in France.
• In 2023, she was honored with the Polar Music Prize, one of the most respected music awards in the world.
• She also received the "SDG Vanguard Award" from the United Nations Foundation in 2024 for her work supporting the UN's goals.

Dance Hits and Remixes

Angélique Kidjo's music has been remixed by famous producers, making them popular dance and club songs. Her songs like "Wombo Lombo" and "Salala" have been big hits on dance charts.

Images for kids

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  Kidjo in 2017

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  Kidjo in 2006

See Also

In Spanish: Angelique Kidjo para niños